“PC Inspector” keeps one step ahead of data thieves

A person might unintentionally give away vital stored data when selling an old computer or laptop.

Even if a person erases files or formats on the hard drive, data thieves might be able to reconstruct the information.

Neither process is enough, according to Anja Hartmann of the German Federal Office for Security in Information Technology (BSI) in Bonn.

“But there are programs that one can use to really erase the data from the hard drive,” she said.

Erasing files or formatting the hard drive only makes previously used parts of the computer available for overwriting. But the new software physically writes over the hard drive.

One version is PC Inspector from E-Maxx, available at www.pcinspector.de/emaxx/download.htm .

Still, the best defence is not to save sensitive data such as passwords or PIN numbers on the hard drive unless they are encrypted.