How to Erase Your Personal Data on Your Computer

Are you ready to upgrade your computer? Maybe you are planning to give your computer to a friend or donate it to a charity. That is a good idea. However, if you want to keep your personal data private, you are going to need to erase the data from your PC. There are many different ways of doing this for different purposes.

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The most common thing that people would like to keep private is internet surfing habits. Some just don’t like the idea of others knowing exactly where they have been going online. This can be private if you delete your internet history, cookies, and cache. This is done differently on each browser but all allow this. Also consider surfing in privacy modes that are offered on browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

Be aware that operating systems have temporary files. At times your recent history and activities on the computer are in these places. For each operating system there is a different place that these things are stored on. You need to find out where yours are stored and empty these.

There are many privacy programs that you can use that will scan your machine and get rid of recent files and other private data. Find ones that have positive reviews that actually work versus some that pose as legitimate programs but are really spyware.

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Reload your operating system if you want to try to completely erase the data on it. This is a good practice if you are going to be donating the computer away or giving it to a friend. The new owner gets a fresh machine and your data is completely deleted and therefore protected.

To be more protective, you can even install a new hard drive completely. Take the old drive if you don’t need it anymore and physically destroy it. Scratch up the drive and smash it. Also put magnets on it so it can’t be used again. This is the best way of making sure no one sees your data.

By following these simple tips you will help to safeguard your private information.

Herb likes to protect his personal data. Please check out his website with information on countertop water cooler and details on home water purifier options.

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