--- title: "SafeErase: Its Critical Importance - Laplink's Technology Blog" description: "Laplink SafeErase: Permanently erase your data for complete privacy protection. Use when recycling or selling an old PC and for ongoing data deletions." image: https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/SafeErase_%20Its%20Critical%20Importance.png --- TRUSTED FOR OVER 40 YEARS - [About Laplink](https://go.laplink.com/about-us) - [About Us](https://go.laplink.com/about-us) - [Management](https://go.laplink.com/management) - [Careers](https://go.laplink.com/careers) - [Laplink Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/) - [Media Center](https://news.laplink.com/) - [Support](https://contact.laplink.com) - [Knowledge Base](https://help.laplink.com) - [Laplink Account Login](https://laplink.com/mysupport/default.asp?FinishURL=/mysupport/mysupport.asp) - [Contact](https://contact.laplink.com/) [![Laplink](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Blog%20%20Main/images/logo-white.png?width=750&height=242&name=logo-white.png "Laplink")](https://www.laplink.com/) - [Personal & Home Office](https://go.laplink.com/pcmover-feature-overview?hsLang=en) - [PCmover](https://go.laplink.com/pcmover-feature-overview?hsLang=en) - 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Evaluation requests are processed and approved usually within one business day. Please fill out the form below. Please note the Evaluation copy of PCmover Enterprise requires you to be logged into a domain when testing. If you would like to test Enterprise without this requirement, please contact corpsales@laplink.com to receive an alternate copy of the software. Thank you for your interest, and for choosing Laplink Software! ##### Contact Sales × ![Featured Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/SafeErase_%20Its%20Critical%20Importance.png) # SafeErase: Its Critical Importance Published by [Amanda Marcus](https://blog.laplink.com/author/amanda-marcus) on December 15, 2016 at 8:03 AM When it comes to computer data and security, erasing data permanently is not as simple as you might think. In the past, you may have placed unwanted files in the recycle bin and emptied the bin, thinking you removed the files completely. However, only the directory entry of each file is actually removed. The data remains on the hard disk and can be easily retrieved. If you format the partitions or opt for formatting through BIOS, a part of the data remains, and it can still be recovered, although one would need to work a bit harder to do so. Considering all the problems associated with data theft and security, you need advanced software, such as [Laplink SafeErase](http://www.laplink.com/index.php/individuals/disk-utilities/safeerase), to delete the data permanently. Laplink SafeErase, as the name suggests, deletes the data completely from your hard disk, making it unrecoverable for any misuse. Now that you understand SafeErase’s importance, let’s have a look at specific situations when SafeErase should be used. **#1: Recycling Hardware: Security Against Identity Theft** If you are planning to recycle or sell your old PC, you need to take precautionary measures to protect yourself and your data. If you only format your hard disk, sensitive documents may remain on your PC, leaving you at risk of identity theft. A tech-savvy individual can easily extract the information from your hard disk and use it against you or your organization. However, if you use [Laplink SafeErase](http://www.laplink.com/index.php/individuals/disk-utilities/safeerase) to securely delete all your data, your sensitive information will be unrecoverable. SafeErase’s government recommended deletion methods provide you with complete privacy protection. **#2: Ongoing Data Deletions** If you are planning to use your hard disk in a different computer, or you want to format it to make the performance more optimized, then you need to use SafeErase. With the help of SafeErase, you can permanently delete data you don’t want on your PC. You should also use SafeErase for regular deletions of unwanted data, such as email archives, Internet browser data, and financial information. In the past, you may have deleted such files using the recycle bin, but now securely delete files so they are gone forever. Now that you know why and when to use [SafeErase](http://www.laplink.com/index.php/individuals/disk-utilities/safeerase) from [Laplink Software](http://www.laplink.com/index.php), it is time to start using the software. However, before securely deleting data, make a copy of any important files so that you don’t lose them. Have any questions? Feel free to reach out to us! [![Laplink SafeErase](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)   Tags: [Software Industry](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/software-industry) [Back to Blog](https://blog.laplink.com) #### Add Comment Published by #### Amanda Marcus [Read more about Amanda Marcus...](https://blog.laplink.com/author/amanda-marcus) ## Related Articles ## [Imaging vs. Backup: Which to Use? - Laplink's Technology Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/2017/01/25/imaging-vs-backup-which-to-use?hsLang=en) If you are confused about whether to choose disk imaging or backup software, you need to first... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2017/01/25/imaging-vs-backup-which-to-use?hsLang=en) ## [Understanding Laplink DiskImage backup software](https://blog.laplink.com/2015/09/02/understanding-laplink-diskimage-backup-software?hsLang=en) With Laplink DiskImage you can make a backup or image of entire computers, single drives or files... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2015/09/02/understanding-laplink-diskimage-backup-software?hsLang=en) ## [Recycle or Resell your old PC safely](https://blog.laplink.com/2015/07/20/recycle-or-resell-your-old-pc-safely?hsLang=en) With Microsoft announcing the release of Windows 10 on July 29th, with a range of new devices... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2015/07/20/recycle-or-resell-your-old-pc-safely?hsLang=en) - ©  LAPLINK SOFTWARE INC. 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