Before discarding a hard drive, what should you ensure has been done to protect sensitive data?

Using data shredding software is essential for securely protecting sensitive data before discarding a hard drive. This software goes beyond simple deletion or formatting, which do not completely erase the data. Instead, data shredding software overwrites the drive multiple times with random data patterns, making it extremely difficult or nearly impossible for anyone to recover the original data afterwards. This process ensures that sensitive information is irretrievable, thereby minimizing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access.

In contrast, simply deleting files or formatting the drive only removes the pointers to the data, making it invisible to the operating system but not actually erasing the data itself. Specialized recovery tools can potentially retrieve this information. Storing the drive in a safe location, while it may protect the hardware, does nothing to secure the data contained within it if not properly wiped.