While reading a computer blog online, I found myself reading an article about deleted data recovery.  In the article, they were talking about how the file systems worked in Windows, and how when you delete something, it really isn’t deleted from your computer until something is written over it.

The article got me really worried about the used computer I sold six months ago - could the new owner have access to the information that I had on there?

That had me worried.  You know, you store your financial information on your computer, only to have someone use some data recovery software to get it off the hard drive - it hardly seemed fair.  I figured there must be some way to delete information for good and protect my privacy and sensitive information.

After a couple of searched I found my answer.  I found some software that worked as a data eraser effectively removing any trace of those files that you deleted.  Interestingly enough, the software I was looking at was similar to what is used by the government - and that must mean that it works well.  I think in the future, I will make sure to erase my data completely before giving away or selling a computer - it is the safest thing to do.