I have a couple of old laptops lying around and want to throw them away, but have been cautious to do so because of privacy concerns of data still on the hard drives. What is the best way to wipe them? Or should I take them out and physically destroy them?
They are running windows vista and 10 I think.
Since no one mentioned it: VCR tape eraser.
Basically just an electromagnet that oscillates because it’s running directly from AC current.
With an extension cord you could erase all the hard drives in a computer lab just waving the eraser vaguely where the drives are.
Physical destruction is better though.