Safe disposal and data wiping: How to protect your information before recycling electronics

By Nathan Vincent

Dec 12, 2024

Safe data disposal can be a simple process.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking forward to spending quality time with family and perhaps upgrading our electronics, whether it’s a new computer, laptop, phone or tablet. This brings me to an email I recently received from one of our Ask A Tech readers, asking about safely disposing of an old laptop — and the same concerns apply to phones and tablets as well.

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These devices often store not only our cherished memories, such as photos and videos, but also sensitive personal information, such as banking details, passwords, and other critical data. This raises an important question: how do you securely remove your data before parting with your old device?

I’m going to cover both secure destruction of devices and how to safely wipe a device if you plan to pass it on to someone else.

One reader wrote in saying, “I have a laptop with a broken screen that has made it unusable.” For laptops and PCs, securely handling the hard drive is fairly straightforward. Once you’ve removed the hard drive, the method of destruction depends on the type of drive.

If it’s an older, traditional metal hard drive, you can simply drill a few holes into the casing. Once you can see the internal disc — which looks like a metallic CD — that’s enough to ensure the data is destroyed. On the other hand, if it’s a newer solid-state drive with a small circuit board, the tried-and-true method of smashing it with a hammer will do the trick.

If you’re planning to give your device to a family member or sell it, operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS and Android provide built-in options to securely erase your data.

Windows reset with ‘Remove everything’:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

• Select ‘Reset this PC’, then choose ‘Remove everything’.

• Opt for ‘Clean the drive fully’ to securely wipe the data.

Mac reset with ‘Erase all content and settings’:

• Go to System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset.

• Select ‘Erase all content and settings’ and follow the prompts.

iPad/iPhone reset with ‘Erase all content and settings’:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad.

• Tap ‘Erase all content and settings’ and follow the prompts.

Android reset with “Erase all data (factory reset)’:

• Go to Settings > System > Reset Options.

• Tap ‘Erase all data (factory reset)’ and confirm.

Manufacturers of these devices claim that this is the most secure method to delete data and make it unrecoverable. However, there is always a small possibility that specialised tools could be used to recover the data.

Finally, it’s important to consider how to responsibly recycle your electronic waste, including destroyed hard drives, PCs, laptops, phones, tablets and other devices. Many places, such as Officeworks, provide convenient e-waste recycling options. For example, at the Shepparton Officeworks, e-waste bins are located at the entrance, making it easy to drop off your old electronics.

Recycling e-waste through such programs ensures that valuable materials can be recovered and reused, and it prevents harmful components from ending up in landfills. In addition to Officeworks, most waste stations also offer e-waste drop-off facilities, allowing for responsible disposal of electronics, including printer cartridges.

This is a fantastic way to reduce your environmental footprint and support sustainable waste management. Always check with your local recycling centres to see what options are available near you.

That wraps up Ask A Tech for 2024. I’ll be back in the new year with plenty more technology tips and information for you. As always, I love hearing from readers — just like the one who asked about laptop disposal — so feel free to send in your questions.

Wishing you all a safe and joyful holiday season. See you in the new year!