#Deleting Personal Data

[xtruss]

How To Make Sure Information On Your Old Computer Is Really, Truly Deleted

It Isn’t As Simple As Pressing ‘Delete’ And Emptying The Trash. Here’s A Step-By-Step Guide.

— By Sean Captain | June 17, 2025 | The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

Illustration: Jon Krause

Spring-cleaning season is almost done, and it is time to finally get rid of that old computer. But be very careful before you sell, give away or recycle it.

You could be handing over sensitive information.

Even if you think you deleted everything on it, your old computer may hold lots of personal items you don’t want anyone seeing. In a 2019 study by the University of Hertfordshire (funded by security tech-reviews site Comparitech), researchers purchased 200 used hard drives from the U.S. and U.K. An analysis found data remaining on 59% of the drives, including passport and driver’s license scans, bank statements, utility bills and “intimate photos.”

Just pressing “delete” and emptying the Trash in macOS or the Recycle Bin in Windows won’t do the trick. That’s because your computer maintains an index of where every file resides. Deleting a file erases only its entry in the index, telling your system that it can put new files in that space. But until the system actually does put new files there, the old ones remain accessible. Simple consumer-level file-recovery apps can get at it—never mind professional-grade forensic software.

Here’s how to make sure your data is really gone—even on a computer that won’t start up.

Back-up And Log Out

Start by backing up anything you want to keep. You could drag files onto an external hard drive or use backup software such as the Time Machine app in macsOS. You can also back up to the cloud using Microsoft OneDrive, Apple iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or other services. (Don’t empty the Trash or Recycling bin. The wipe process will take care of this.)

Next, log out of applications or games with an online component, so the license is no longer associated with your old computer. Also do this for services like Gmail or Facebook, and web browsers like Chrome that sync your data online—on the admittedly remote chance that an incomplete wipe allows the next owner to access those accounts.

Another step for any type of computer is making sure your files are encrypted—scrambled in a mathematical operation based on very long strings of random numbers and letters called encryption keys. The wiping process will delete the keys to make sure any files that may remain on the machine are unreadable.

What you do next depends on your operating system.

Clearing Out A PC

Windows 10 and the current Windows 11 have a feature called “Reset this PC,” which, with the right settings, thoroughly wipes your data. First, make sure your operating system is up-to-date, as Microsoft recently fixed a bug that sometimes caused the reset process to fail. Press the Windows key, search for “updates” and select “Check for updates.” Install any that are available.

Now check on encryption. In Windows 10 or 11 Home editions, press the Windows key and search for “device encryption settings.” Click “Device encryption settings” on the next screen, then make sure the switch next to “Device encryption” is toggled on. Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education editions have an encryption utility called BitLocker. To enable it, click the Start button, type “bitlocker” and select “Manage BitLocker” from the list of results. (All versions of Windows 10 and 11 also encrypt deleted files.)

Now you’re ready to wipe. Tap the Windows key again, search for “Reset this PC,” then click on it. On the next screen, tap “Reset PC” (Windows 11) or “Get started” (Windows 10), and on the following screen, click “Remove everything.” On the next screen, select “Local reinstall.” (If this doesn’t work, try the “Cloud download” option.) Then click “Change settings,” and on the following screen (under “Clean data?”), toggle the switch to “Yes” and press “Confirm.” On the following screen, press “Next” (Windows 11) or “Reset” (Windows 10). On Windows 11, you will press “Reset” on one more screen. Then let the process run for a few hours.

“Reset this PC” deletes your files, apps and settings, logs you out of your Microsoft account and disables the “Find My Device” feature so the computer is no longer associated with you. Then the serious wiping starts. The encryption keys are deleted, making any encrypted data irretrievably scrambled, and the Clean data option overwrites the ones and zeros that had encoded data on your drive. A clean copy of Windows is also installed.

The MacOS Method

Apple’s “Erase Assistant” feature made its debut in 2021’s macOS 12 Monterey. If your current OS is older, you may be able to update it. To update an older OS to Monterey or a later one, click the Apple menu, then “System Preferences” and “Software Update.” If the update process doesn’t work, jump to “If all else fails” below for another option.

As with Windows, the “Erase All Content & Settings” process should start with encryption. On newer Macs (starting between 2018 and 2020, depending on the model), data is encrypted automatically. Just to be safe, though, turn on a feature called FileVault that adds encryption to older systems and an extra layer to newer ones. Click the Apple icon, then “System Settings” (or “System Preferences” in Monterey). In the next window, click “Privacy & Security” (or “Security & Privacy”), then click FileVault.

Now it is time to wipe. Click again on the Apple icon and “System Settings” (or “System Preferences”), click “General” on the left, then “Transfer or Reset” on the bottom right. Finally, on the next screen, click “Erase All Content & Settings.” (In Monterey, you’ll go there directly from “System Preferences.”)

This process signs you out of Apple services, turns off the “Find My” and “Activation Lock” security measures so that the system is no longer associated with you, and erases all your files, settings, apps and anything else. It deletes the encryption keys, permanently scrambling any data that remains.

If All Else Fails

If your PC or Mac is so old that it can’t run a modern wipe process, you have one more option before seeking pro help. For Windows, several experts recommended the KillDisk app. The $49.95 Professional version runs from a USB drive and overwrites the ones and zeros that encode data on your hard drive with all zeros. Afterward, your computer will no longer boot into Windows unless you reinstall the OS.

For a Mac, your best option is a complex process that Apple describes online.

If these processes sound too complicated, or if your system won’t even turn on, use Apple’s recycling program for Macs or a disposal company that offers hard-drive destruction (or shredding) and recycling for consumers with either type of system. Look for ones that issue a certificate of destruction to verify the process. For instance, Ship ‘N’ Shred accepts drives or whole devices, with prices that include shipping ranging from around $30 to $200.

Modern technology leaves a lot of digital footprints, but at least you can sweep them off your old computer.

— Sean Captain is a Writer ✍️ in New York.

[bubu0h]

How I Manage my personal AO3 e-library Archive

Download everything I want/hope to read in EPUB format. I try to anyways... if I notice I got too many tabs open on my browser, time to download If multi-chapter remember first to press 'Entire Work' and then 'Download'

2. I use Book Story (Android App) to manage the mess that is my downloads folder - this app is a great book database manager AND scroll reader with Big letters as well - The app has this fantastic feature that allows me put the books into 'Reading' 'Already Read' 'Planing' 'Dropped' categories; I move the books around and it helps me keep a visual tab on them - , plus if you like scroll reading this one is fantastic at that as well.

Periodically I update the BACKUP of the folder(s) were the copies of books live. KEEP A BACKUP OF YOUR BACKUP , if you mess around and don't got no backup is really painful and irreversible.

On my computer I then make a copy of my messy ass downloads folder from my phone into my computer. While looking at the visual information the app provides me I delete books that I 'Dropped' and I move 'Already Read' books into my computer E-Library Data Base (I use Calibre) that's my main book hub where I will quickly notice what books need covers and I take my time working to finding an image I like for the book , so I can recognize them books by just looking at the covers I am terrible at remembering book titles

If you are curious this is what Calibre looks like - this is just AO3

3. To read EPUB books I use Libera FD Is frankly the best reader I have tried because I prefer page turning. If you like scroll reading Book Story is much better option for scroll reading.

Libera FD can customize pretty much EVERYTHING and is very very feature rich ( it can be overwhelming) HUMONGOUS FONT SIZE , you can download any font you want to use, replace words if I want to , it has OLED dark mode for reading at 3 am, you can configure it so it reads to you (using TTS) , several reading modes including auto scroll and speed reading mode, and so much more; the dev(s) are still updating and adding functions to it is kind of amazing I am probably not using it to its full potential You can sort books by 'Genre' which is how the app recognize the tags from the website.

Here some visuals of Libera FD (I wrote in the ALT of pics, click on it)

Book Story is a neat app , less overwhelming and the UI is a lot more intuitive. It looks like this for me , you can configure the essentials to your preference. Is a fairly new app be patient with it (sometimes just give two minutes to cook) , it is still being updated. The dev is very active if you got suggestion or present bugs.

4. How to provide enrichment to glorious magnificent authors , that share their passion with us for free. When you open any ao3 .epub on either of these apps the links are underlined. I tap on the link it leads back to the original posted website page at the beginning of every book you get from A03.

Tap the link, keep it open in your browser and star reading.

Open a note taking app.

I usually take notes about my silly musings as I read, copy quotes and whatever else I want to leave in the comment section of the chapter I am on. Cut and paste and that's it. I load the next chapter in the website and then continue reading the next chapter on the reading app (I comment on all the chapters if I have something to comment, sometime I don't have anything to say so I don't . Figure it makes authors happy and i find it very fun. Sometimes they answer back it feels nice) remember to leave kudos and comments specially if you are rereading.

I use Quillpad (android app) the most important feature of any note taking app you choose, in this case in particular, is that it saves your notes automatically (I used some apps that didn't it was devastating losing all my notes like that. I though that as long as I didn't close the app it was fine turns out not - some you have to manually save - and sometimes it would timeout and gone , all my notes gone. With Quillpad I haven't lost notes)

I haven't taken the time to figure out if Librera has a feature for annotation that could be useful for commentary note taking

I think that's all I can think of sharing on this topic. I am open to questions and adding things to this post with visual aid and whatever I can do to help , do let me know.

Keeping a copy of books safe and easy to find KEEP BACKUPS OF YOUR BACKUPS

-Updated Nov. 11 , 2024.

[roguelioness]

...i just accidentally deleted ALL of OG Xinara's saves

i'm gonna. go lie down. and convince myself this is a sign to remake her...

[annachibi]

Sooo facebook suspended my account, which I have barely even touched in literal years besides like checking notifications every once in a blue moon, for... some reason. I haven't gotten any emails about anyone trying to log in or anything like that, so I have no idea. I type in the fb url myself just in case this is a scam, and indeed the account is suspended. At this point, even though I only use it to superficially keep in touch with family, I fully intend to get it reinstated, so I hit the Appeal button.

hahahahaha oh no, I am definitely not doing that

goodbye, facebook

[mudwerks]

(via Firefox deletes promise to never sell personal data, asks users not to panic - Ars Technica)

[orcelito]

Working on my javascript for my web page. Turns out I have the perfect kind of setup to accomplish some of the project requirements, specifically with even handlers and user interactions

My website, conceptually, will load a different employee details page depending on what employee name is clicked on. But I need to load it dynamically (instead of hard-coding it) so that the user can add or delete employees & it'll be able to still load the relevant shit.

So! Only one employee details page, but depending on how it's loaded, it'll load a different employee's information. Still working on getting down Exactly how to do it (I'm thinking using URL parameters that'll read a different object depending on what ID is used)

It's entirely doable. In fact, it's probably extremely common to do in web pages. No one wants to hard-code information for every new object. Of course not. And thus the usefulness of dynamic javascript stuff.

I can do this. I can very much do this.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

y'all i've been upset about nanowrimo's shenanigans since last year, when kids weren't safe, and now there's this AI shitshow, and i want to cry about it again, because nano has been SO IMPORTANT to me since 2008--it helped me hack my writing process and make a bunch of cool shit, and i've written so many stories i love using it as a jumping off point. but. we gotta protect kids, and we gotta get the fuck out of here with AI bullshit.

so. the decision i have come to is that i will still be participating in nano. but now it stands for "now a's [that's me] novel writing month." i'm still going to write a book in november, and i'm still going to shoot for the 1,667 words/day (even though my finished projects wind up way longer than that, invariably), because i've structured my creative life around this routine, but i won't be using their site any more.

i will also not be tagging my november project posts as nanowrimo, but i WILL still be tagging them as "nano[YEAR]" (because that's been my tagging system for untitled projects for uh. years.). and it's now a's novel writing month :)

[kalloway]

its like 6am and this is a horrid sketch but having thoughts about this stupid bastard again hrrrng

love a man I simultaneously want to push down some stairs but also be pushed down stairs by?????

[leoreadss]

Delete IG and Facebook

I'm currently deleting Facebook and Instagram because of Zuckerberg's latest statements. I successfully downloaded all the photos I had on Facebook, and I'm doing the same for Instagram.

About IG tho be careful if you download the JSON or HTML file of all your content. If you delete the ig account from which you downloaded the JSON or HTML file, those photos and content will no longer be available.

So, I'm writing a Python script that will allow me to safely download photos or videos and store them on my computer.

You can DM me if you need help :)

For all Americans out there, be safe my friends.

[makima-s-most-smile]

Y'know, I like living in Europe...

But sometimes...

Sometimes...

I got a letter back from the hospital where I'll get the tumor removed. I assumed it was the recommendation of the Doctor. Okay, stress, fear, tears, thoughts like: fuck, I still need to make a will (because what if I am part of the 5% where things go wrong) and an advanced directive (because what if) and is my organ donor stuff up to date amd I need to clean my flat and repair my washing machine first and all...

And then I open it

AND BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE MY CASE ANY FURTHER THEY NEED MY SIGNATURE BECAUSE OF DATA PROTECTION

And... it makes sense... But it would have been nice to be told this when I phoned them and was told that I could 'just' send in my case data first, since the hospital is six hours away.

*tiny lizard screams*

At least I have now a list with to do stuff...

[deltastorm101]

infamous end-of-year-cleanup has begun babes

[ranseur]

https://www.tumblr.com/ranseur/762392580544692224?source=share

I- fucking.. i never realized i could download and organize fics

I feel stupid now

Never used any app cause ao3's website is amazing and i love it but I CAN DOWNLOAD AND ORGANIZE FICS?? WHAAAT

this is so stupid cause i already have a few downloaded fics i just haven't thought about doing it for more

noo don't feel stupid! but i hope you find that an app boosts your quality of life the app i use on android is called ReadEra. i haven't tested or compared other apps, but i like this one because the UI is so unobtrusive, customizable, and intuitive. tap right/left or top/bottom for page flip, tap middle to hide/show UI, swipe left side to decrease/increase brightness, tap top right to make a bookmark or edit one, top left to swap between two chosen visual themes (i use dark vs darker, but there is light theme and 'paper' offwhite too), if i browse my collection or author list it will keep me in the author and collection i'm 'in' until i back out myself, etc etc i really love how easy this app is to use. the only ad i get is the occasional prompt to go premium but it doesn't impede my reading experience but it could be true that any old app will do all this- find what works for you! enjoy!

[ilikedetectives]

.

[fierce-little-miana]

Me* spends a lot of time creating an excel sheet that reuses the exact same layout as my colleague excel sheet (so you can copy past data from one sheet to the other) while making it more esthetically appealing, making sure there are no weird cell division, making sure the conditioning are done properly,and adding extra colones at the end for new data relevant for other users.

My colleague: it wasn’t practical for me to use so I deleted it (!) and created a new one without any kind of formatting, conditioning and without the extra colones for the other users.

Me:

[freakystinky]

the way tumblr talks about medicine makes me wonder how many of us here actually have critical thinking skills

[oddlittlestories]

Nothing like a gifset to remind me that I really DON'T like dating men actually