If you need to sanitize (or, in less technical terms, wipe all data from) a hard drive, you can’t just delete it: You need to overwrite the file on a block level.  And if the file is especially sensitive, the...

If you’re determined to destroy your data, we’ve got good news: Contrary to popular misconception, it is possible to securely sanitize storage media in a way that prevents even the most advanced data recovery techniques from restoring your files.  To...

Hard disk drives (HDDs) are mechanical devices — and unless the laws of physics suddenly change, every hard drive will eventually fail. But while some of the issues that cause drive failures are out of your control, you can take...

Astronauts need to store a lot of data. Do they use hard drives, solid-state drives (SSD), or some other technology?  The answer: Hard drives can function in outer space, although solid-state storage may be a more appropriate choice for modern...

Occasionally, we like to address unusual questions on this blog. In other articles, we explained how high altitudes could cause hard drive failures and the chances of recovering data from a 10-year-old hard drive recovered from a landfill. Today,...

Hard drive shipments have fallen in recent years, and somewhat dramatically: By one estimate, the total number of shipped hard drives dropped by 33.5% from the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023.  For modern consumers, solid-state...

The state government of Maine has announced a major cybersecurity incident, which may have exposed the personally identifiable information (PII) of nearly all of the state’s residents. “On May 31, 2023, the State of Maine became aware of a software...

An I/O Device Error is a potentially serious symptom that occurs when a computer cannot interface (trade data) with a storage device. It’s commonly associated with Windows, though input/output errors can occur on any operating system. You might encounter an...

In our industry, “data recovery” refers to the process of restoring data that has been corrupted, deleted, or made inaccessible for another reason (such as a media failure).  “Computer forensics” is related, but different: Forensics attempts to determine what happened...

Hard disk drives (HDDs) can function in a fairly wide range of conditions, but high operating temperatures can lead to mechanical issues.  Generally, manufacturers recommend that hard drives operate within a range of 77-133 degrees Fahrenheit (25-45 degrees Celsius). Your...