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What is Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) and How to Fix It

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

We’ve all felt our stomachs drop in dread as soon as our computer screen turns that all-too-familiar shade of blue.

But what is the formidable Blue Screen of Death (usually abbreviated to BSOD) on Windows devices, why does it happen, and how can we fix it?

What does the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) mean?   

The “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD) is the famous error screen that is displayed by a Microsoft Windows operating system when it encounters a critical error from which it cannot recover. It’s not an application crash – it’s a full system failure.

Sometimes you’ll find the Blue Screen of Death referred to as a stop error screen, blue error screen, fatal error, or bugcheck.

When the BSOD appears, it means the error is so severe that the operating system needs to be recovered. At this point, the computer will come to a complete halt and will be useless until it is rebooted.

When was the BSOD first introduced?

The first Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) actually appeared in Windows 1.0, which was released in November 1985. However, the BSOD as it is commonly recognized today became more prominent with the release of Windows 3.0 in 1990.

Windows 3.0 was the first version where the BSOD was used as a mechanism to handle critical system errors, specifically those related to memory management and other severe system failures. It was a preventative measure that was designed to protect the computer against critical hardware failure. The Windows 3.0 version of the BSOD was a text-based screen that provided technical information about the error and helped users or technicians could use to diagnose the problem.

The BSOD became more widely known and infamous with later versions of Windows, particularly Windows 95 and Windows 98, where it became a regular occurrence for many users. The term “Blue Screen of Death” itself became popular around this time, reflecting the disruption these errors caused.

The messaging and overall aesthetic of the BSOD has become softer and friendlier over the years, and from Windows 10 onwards, users have been provided with certain ‘stop codes’ and/or QR codes that can provide more information on the error with a simple lookup in Windows Support. But it has always meant the same thing: it’s time to restart!

BSODs are particularly frustrating because they usually crop up without any warning whatsoever. You’re unlikely to see them coming – but they will almost certainly bring whatever you were working on to a hard stop!

What causes the Blue Screen of Death?

There are several issues with the computer’s software or hardware that can trigger the Blue Screen of Death. Let’s look into these in some more detail.

Hardware failures          

A physical problem with your Windows device could prompt it to stop running safely.

Faulty memory (RAM): Broken, corrupt or insufficient RAM modules can cause system instability, resulting in the system ceasing to function until it can correct these issues.

Failing hard drive or SSD: Bad sectors or other issues with storage devices can cause data corruption and trigger a BSOD.

Disk error: If the file system becomes corrupted, it can cause data access issues that lead to a BSOD. Physical damage or wear on a hard drive can result in bad sectors, causing the system to crash when trying to read or write to these areas.

CPU processor error: Overclocking the CPU – ie, increasing the speed at which your hardware components work to perform their calculations – might increase performance temporarily, but lead to a BSOD if the system can’t cope with these new demands.

Power supply issues: If the power supply unit (PSU) is failing or unable to provide sufficient power to the components, the system might not be able to start up properly.

Overheating: If the CPU, GPU, or other components overheat, the system may shut down to prevent damage, resulting in a BSOD.

Graphics processing unit (GPU) malfunctions: The problem could be associated with graphics card; perhaps the driver is out of date, hasn’t been updated correctly, or is incompatible with the system. Overclocked GPUs can also lead you straight to the blue screen scenario.

Hardware usage exceeding limits: Installing new hardware that is incompatible with the system, has been improperly installed, or is just not able to cope with what’s required from the device might trigger a BSOD.

Motherboard BIOS bugs: Running outdated firmware on the motherboard can cause compatibility issues with hardware or operating system updates. Similarly, incorrect BIOS/UEFI settings (for example, incorrect memory timings or voltage settings) might also be to blame.

Defective fans: Make sure the system is free from dust, adequately ventilated and can cool itself without any problems, otherwise a BSOD could be just around the corner.

Software conflicts

These are common causes of Blue Screens of Death, particularly when it comes to:

Incompatible software: Programs that are not compatible with the operating system can cause conflicts. If you find that BSODs keep taking place after new software has been installed, undo the change to see if this stops them from happening.

Malware or viruses: Malicious software can corrupt system files or interfere with critical processes, and both of these issues can overwhelm the OS, resulting in a complete shutdown.

Bugs in the operating system kernel: These can lead to vulnerabilities or corrupted file systems, resulting in a kernel panic that prompts the BSOD.

Conflicting third-party software updates: Security software or firewalls can cause conflicts with the operating system, and any software that modifies system settings or registry entries can contribute to BSODs, too.  

Incompatible drivers: Drivers need to be up to date with the computer’s version of Windows. You also need to stay on top of patches and updates to the operating system if you want to avoid the BSOD.

Corrupted system files: Files that have been affected by improper shutdowns or failed updates can lead to a BSOD.

Common BSOD Windows stop codes

Blue Screen of Death stop codes, also known as bug check codes or stop error codes, are hexadecimal codes that indicate the specific error that caused the system to crash.

Each stop code corresponds to a particular issue, such as hardware failures, driver problems, or system file corruption. Understanding these codes can help diagnose and fix the underlying problem.

There are 270 stop codes in total, and most of them are extremely rare. Here’s a quick introduction to the ten codes that Windows users encounter the most:

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

This stop code indicates that a kernel-mode program generated an exception that the error handler didn’t catch. Check faulty drivers, incompatible hardware, or issues with system services.

NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM

This relates to the NTFS file system and usually indicates a problem with the hard drive or SSD, which could be caused by corruption, bad sectors, or issues with disk controllers.

DATA_BUS_ERROR

This is down to a fault with the system’s data bus. The most common cause of a DATA_BUS_ERROR (but not the only one!) is defective RAM. If the memory modules have physical defects or are not functioning correctly, they may cause data corruption.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

This error usually occurs when a kernel-mode driver, system service, or hardware device tries to access memory with inadequate permissions. Faulty drivers, incompatible hardware, or corrupted system files are usually the culprits.

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

This code appears when the system attempts to access a page of memory that is not present due to faulty RAM, driver issues, or corrupt system files.

CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

As its name suggests, this error occurs when a critical system process fails, causing the system to crash and display a blue screen.

SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

This stop code means that a system thread generated an exception that the error handler didn’t catch, usually because of incompatible or faulty drivers, hardware issues, or system service errors.

VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED

This occurs when the graphics driver fails to respond within a specified time, causing Windows to reset the graphics card to recover from the unresponsive state. It’s most frequently caused by driver issues, hardware failures, or an overworked GPU.

SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION

This error indicates that an exception occurred while executing a system service routine. Turn your attention to any corrupted system files, driver conflicts, or hardware issues that might be the root of the problem.

DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION

In this instance, the Windows DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) watchdog detects a prolonged or stuck DPC routine. It’s often caused by incompatible drivers, SSD firmware issues, or hardware conflicts, particularly those related to storage devices.

How to fix the Blue Screen of Death

Getting a Blue Screen of Death isn’t great news for your device, particularly if your BSODs are happening on a regular basis – but it’s not always the end of the world.

Follow the 10 steps below to uncover the problem and getting your system functioning correctly. (Make sure you write down the stop code, too, as this could help you reach a diagnosis faster.)

  1. Restart your computer

A simple restart can sometimes resolve temporary issues. Hold down the power button and wait for your device to reboot.

  • Boot into Safe Mode

Restart the computer and press F8 (or Shift + F8) during the boot process to access the Advanced Boot Options.

From there, select “Safe Mode.” This will start Windows with minimal drivers and can help you diagnose if the issue is driver- or software-related.

  • Update drivers

In Safe Mode, open “Device Manager” (Win + X > “Device Manager”).

Look for any devices with a yellow triangle – which indicates an issue – and update those drivers by right-clicking and selecting “Update driver.” This should resolve any conflicts with outdated or incompatible drivers.

  • Run a Windows update

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click “Check for updates.”

Installing the latest updates at regular intervals can fix known bugs and compatibility issues, and help to keep BSODs to a minimum.

  • Check for malware

Malware can corrupt system files.Run a full system scan using your preferred trusted antivirus program to see if there are any unwanted files that could be wreaking havoc.

  • Run System File Checker (SFC)

This tool checks for and repairs corrupted system files.

Go to Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then select Command Prompt from the list. Alternatively, open Command Prompt as an administrator (Win + X > “Command Prompt (Admin)”).

Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

  • Check the hard drive for errors

This simple job could have a huge impact on the smooth-running of your system.

In Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter. You may need to restart the computer.

  • Undo Recent Changes

If the BSOD started after installing new software or hardware, uninstall the source of the issue by heading over to Control Panel > Programs and Features. You may need to wait until a newer version of the program or driver is available until it functions correctly.

  • Use System Restore

Go to Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore and choose a restore point before the BSOD started. This might help to identify where the issue began.

  1. Reset or Reinstall Windows

If all else fails and you’re still experiencing persistent issues, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > “Reset this PC,” and choose to keep or remove your files.

If you’ve actioned all the above advice and you’re still getting BSODs, chances are you’re facing a hardware failure, and you’ll need to speak to a professional technician for further guidance.

Does a Blue Screen of Death mean your computer has a virus?

Experiencing a BSOD doesn’t necessarily mean the computer has picked up a virus, but it’s always worth running a scanner to see if any infected malware programs can be removed.

SUPERAntiSpyware’s Professional X Edition is a powerful tool that can detect and remove more than a billion malicious threats to your system. From malware and spyware to trojans, worms, ransomware, parasites, keyloggers and more, our software will seek out any and all of the intrusive files that might be contributing to Blue Screen of Death errors and get rid of them for good.

Professional X Edition can also fix the parts of the OS, registry, and task manager that were previously damaged by malware, saving you the hassle of correcting these issues one by one.

How to change how Windows manages Blue Screen of Death

You can adjust your Windows settings to control how the operating system responds to critical errors, and how much information Windows provides you on what went wrong.

  • Adjust recovery settings

Find the System Properties setting in the Advanced System Settings window.

Under the Advanced tab, find the section labeled Startup and Recovery and click Settings.

Look under the System failure section.

Uncheck Automatically restart if you want Windows to stop restarting automatically after a BSOD. This allows you to see the error message on the BSOD.

  • Change system failure options

Changing the system failure options will allow you to control how much information is saved following a BSOD.

From the drop-down menu labeled Write debugging information, you can choose what kind of memory dump Windows should create when it encounters a BSOD:

  • Small memory dump (256 KB): This stores minimal information and is helpful for diagnosing simple errors.
  • Kernel memory dump: This captures the kernel memory at the time of the crash, so is useful for more detailed analysis.
  • Complete memory dump: This records all memory at the time of the crash, resulting in a large dataset.
  • None: No memory dump is created.

How to prevent BSOD from returning        

Not all Blue Screen of Death fixes are straightforward, and many of them can’t be prevented.

But you can reduce the risk of a BSOD occurring in the first place by following these simple steps:

Keep windows updated: Regularly check for and install Windows updates via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Updates often include patches for bugs and security vulnerabilities that could cause system instabilities.

Update device drivers: As mentioned, outdated or incompatible drivers are a common cause of BSODs. Use Device Manager to update drivers, especially for critical components like graphics cards, network adapters, and storage controllers.

Maintain your system regularly: Clean up temporary files, defragment your hard drive (if you’re using HDD), and make good use of built-in tools like Disk Cleanup and Defragment and Optimize Drives. This will help to prevent performance issues.

Utilize antivirus and antimalware tools: Run regular scans with the virus checker of your choice to help prevent infections.

Conduct regular disk maintenance: Use the chkdsk command in Command Prompt to check and repair file system errors on your drives (chkdsk /f /r).

Perform memory checks: Find out if issues with your RAM are causing your BSOD.

Avoid overclocking: Running components at their rated speeds reduces the risk of system instabilities. Consider returning to the default settings on your CPU, GPU or RAM if you notice you’re consistently overclocking them.

Ensure adequate hardware cooling: Overheating can cause hardware failures that lead to BSODs, so keeping components cool with proper ventilation is essential. Use hardware monitoring tools to keep a close eye on your CPU, GPU, and other components’ temperatures.

Use reliable hardware: Make sure that any connected peripherals, such as printers and external drives, are compatible with your system and have up-to-date drivers.

Be mindful with software installations: Only install software from trusted sources and avoid using pirated or cracked software.

Monitor your system logs: Use Event Viewer (eventvwr) to find any errors or warning signs that might signal an impending BSOD. Detecting problems early can help to prevent critical failures.

You’re ready to deal with BSOD issues!

By now, you’ll have everything you need to tackle the Blue Screen of Death head-on.

While it’s important to understand how to react to critical system errors when they arise, prevention is better than cure when it comes to keeping BSODs at bay.

Installing SUPERAntiSpyware on your device will support you in your quest to keep your Windows device free from viruses and performing at its best. Download our Free Edition to get started.

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What is a digital footprint?

Digital footprints

Did you know that every interaction you have online can shape the way you’re perceived on the web?

You’ve likely spent years creating your online identity, without even knowing it.

While it’s important for most of us to have a digital presence, our digital footprint can reveal a lot about our lives – and in some cases, perhaps a little too much.

Here, we discuss the different types of digital footprints, why they are important, and how to check and protect your online reputation to make sure you’re giving off the best impression and keeping your private information out of the public domain.

Defining a digital footprint           

What do we mean when we use the term ‘digital footprint’?

Essentially, your digital footprint refers to the trail of data that you create while using the internet.

It includes all the information you leave behind – either intentionally or unintentionally, actively or passively – every time you engage with websites and apps. Much of this data is gleaned from public social media profiles; if you’re active on sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, and your account isn’t set to private, all your activity will be easily discoverable by anyone who is interested in finding it.

As you can imagine, your digital footprint can reveal a lot about your habits, preferences, location, and relationships. Leaving this information out to public scrutiny isn’t always a bad thing in itself – but unfortunately it can be used by companies for targeted advertising and even used to facilitate privacy breaches. So, it’s a good idea to be conscious of what you’re putting out there, how your digital footprint can affect how you’re being perceived and the experience you’re receiving online, and how it might be used against you.

What are the different types of digital footprints?         

There are four types of digital footprints that the average web user needs to be aware of:

Active digital footprints

Your active digital footprint consists of all the data you intentionally share online. This information is both visible and traceable, but you can control how you engage with online communities and decide to only share what you’re comfortable with.

A typical active digital footprint might include:

  • Posts, likes, comments and shares on social media
  • Comments on forums, blog posts, news articles and YouTube videos
  • Emails, including attachments and signatures, specifically if you’re using web-based email services like Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook
  • Information submitted via online forms
  • Information you’ve shared on your own website or within your own digital portfolio, which likely includes your direct contact details
  • Reviews you’ve left on platforms like Amazon, TripAdvisor, and Google Reviews
  • Information you’ve provided when signing up for online accounts with, for example, Netflix or Spotify
  • Information you’ve submitted in online surveys and quizzes
  • Contributions you’ve made to collaborative websites like Wikipedia, GitHub, or Udemy
  • Content you’ve sent through instant messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram
  • Questions and responses you’ve posted on boards in communities like Reddit or Quora
  • Files you’ve uploaded to cloud services like Dropbox, iCloud or Google Drive
  • Petitions you’ve signed
  • Cookies that you’ve agreed to install on your devices

Passive digital footprints           

The data generated by your passive digital footprint is often a byproduct of the things you’ve been doing online. This information is not created mindfully, but nonetheless, it’s used by service providers and marketers to analyse your behavior and serve you targeted ads. It often consists of things like:

  • Your browsing history, including the websites you’ve visited, the pages you’ve viewed, how you’ve interacted with them, and how long you’ve stayed on each page (usually collected through cookies, tracking scripts, and tracking pixels)
  • Your IP address, which is logged by websites, servers and online services every time you connect to the web
  • Your search engine queries
  • Your app usage data
  • Your location data
  • Your shopping cart data
  • Information about your device, including its model, operating system, browser type, screen resolution, and MAC address or IMEI number
  • Information about the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks you have connected to
  • Logs of your online activity, including login/logout times and errors
  • Timestamps and geotags from social media websites
  • Email tracking data
  • Streaming data

Anonymous digital footprints

These footprints consist of actions that aren’t directly tied to your personal identity, but still contribute to your online profile. Even when you’re visiting a website in incognito mode or using a pseudonym, your activity is never truly private – metadata can still be collected and linked to your activity pattern.

Examples of the data points often found in anonymous online footprints are:

  • Your IP address (without any personal information, if you’ve requested that the data remains anonymous in your settings)
  • Data on your browser type, operating system etc that’s been collected by the websites you’ve visited
  • Cookie data
  • User experience data, such as your page engagement and navigation behaviors
  • Ad tracking and targeting data
  • Incognito browsing histories
  • So-called ‘anonymous’ search queries
  • Anonymous feedback and surveys
  • Anonymous social media interactions
  • Activity carried out on the Tor network, which is typically anonymized by being routed through multiple servers
  • Interactions with blockchain networks
  • VPN usage

Pseudonymous digital footprints     

These are digital traces linked to an alias rather than a real identity. For instance, if you’re a blogger, you might decide to write under a pen name. By doing so, you’ll be creating a pseudonymous footprint.

While this approach can offer some privacy, sophisticated tracking techniques can sometimes link pseudonyms to real people, particularly when combined with other data points. The bottom line is, you might think you’re beating the system, but you’ll never be truly anonymous!

Some examples of pseudonymous data points include:

  • Aliases and usernames
  • Email addresses without your real name
  • Anonymous posts on forums
  • Pseudonymous names or handles on social media
  • Pseudonymous ecommerce accounts (with the likes of eBay and Etsy)
  • Online gaming profile tags
  • Cryptocurrency wallets
  • Contributions to open-source projects
  • Contributions to crowdfunding projects

Why is your digital footprint important?

As we mentioned earlier, your digital footprint reveals a lot about you. It’s a reflection of your entire journey online – and it’s out there for anyone to see, meaning that, unfortunately, it can be exploited.

It’s permanent

The information your digital footprint holds will help other people shape a view on who you are, how you behave, and what you value. Old media from decades ago can be found, analysed, potentially misinterpreted, and used to create a profile of you that might not be entirely accurate. Even content that you thought was long deleted can often resurface, which is why it’s so essential to be careful about what you share on the web.

It can help determine your reputation – both online and offline

If you once expressed a controversial opinion on Facebook, made an inappropriate joke to a friend on Twitter, or berated somebody in a forum, these seemingly off-the-cuff comments can still be unearthed, affecting your credibility. You might have evolved since then, but your character can still be tarnished by what went on before.

It helps employers and officials with their vetting processes

Statistics show that more than three quarters of employers google their prospective hires during recruitment drives, so whatever you are associated with online could have a bearing on the opportunities you’re offered. Plus, colleges, universities, security companies, police departments and even government representatives may be inclined to examine your digital footprint to better understand your public profile.

You might be wondering how employers and officials can access and analyze your digital footprint without spending days trawling through your data. Well, the truth is, there are lots of background checking tools available, including:

Maigret, an open-source intelligence (OSINT) platformwhich helps companies find accounts and websites that are associated with a particular username.

MOSINT, another OSINT tool that gathers information associated with a specific email address.

Nexfil, which enables employers to find profiles allocated to particular usernames.

It might threaten your personal safety

Companies and cybercriminals can use the data in your digital footprint to learn more about you and use this information for their own gain.

Perhaps they’ll simply use this data to serve up more relevant advertisements to you while you’re browsing – or maybe they’ll use your data to develop a convincing spear-phishing attack or release sensitive information about you without your consent (something which is known as doxing). Be aware that, if there’s lots of information about you in the digital ether, there’s a chance that somebody, somewhere will try to use it to their advantage. 

Digital footprint examples        

We’ve touched on a few examples – but let’s take a closer look at what actually makes up your digital footprint and delve into the kinds of data points that are going to leave a lasting impression online.

Social media

  • Logins from any device, including your mobile phone
  • Connecting with friends – for example, accepting a friend request on Facebook
  • The content you share with your friends and followers
  • Logging into third party websites using your social media account details
  • Joining a dating site or app

Online shopping data

  • Making online purchases
  • Creating an account with an online retailer
  • Signing up for coupons
  • Registering for newsletters from retailers
  • Browsing and making purchases via shopping apps

Online banking

  • Using a mobile or browser-based banking app
  • Submitting an application for a new credit card
  • Buying or selling stocks
  • Subscribing to financial content (blogs and online magazines)

Reading the news

  • Browsing articles on a news app
  • Subscribing to an online news outlet
  • Signing up for a newsletter
  • Reposting news articles on forums or social profiles

Health and fitness

  • Using fitness trackers
  • Using calorie counting or recipe apps
  • Using healthcare apps
  • Registering your contact information with a gym or sports center

There are a whole host of other elements that will be recorded when you’re actively using the internet. Your IP address will be noted, the browsers you’re using (and some of their settings) will be tracked, and there will be information available on every online form you complete.

How to check your digital footprint

Interested to see what your digital footprint looks like? There are several ways you can check in on your activity and get a better feel for your online reputation:

Search for your name on search engines

Open a search engine like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo, then enter your full name in quotation marks (e.g., “John Doe”) to search for exact matches. You should also try variations of your name – including nicknames, middle names, or any professional aliases you use – to see if these data points have been indexed, too.

Keep an eye out for personal information about yourself, any publicly accessible social media profiles that you’ve made, any mentions in news articles or publications, and links to online content you’ve created. You can also use reverse image search tools to see where your profile picture appears online.

Check aggregated websites

Visit websites that aggregate personal information, such as Whitepages, Spokeo, MyLife, or Pipl. Search for your name, email address, or phone number on these sites, and review the information that’s returned, which will likely include your contact details, addresses, social profiles, and any other public records.

These aggregator websites often have their own processes for removing or opting out of listings. Look for an opt-out link, which is usually found in the site’s privacy policy or help section. From there, follow the instructions to remove or hide your information from public view. This might involve submitting a request or verifying your identity.

Set up Google Alerts for your name

Go to Google Alerts. In the search box, enter your name in quotation marks (e.g., “John Doe”) to track exact matches. You can customize the alert by choosing how often you want to receive notifications, the sources you’re interested in (news, blogs, web), and the language and region. Finally, enter your email address to receive alerts and click “Create Alert.” You should start receiving round-up emails straightaway.

This will keep you across any new mentions that might have a damaging impact on your reputation. Reviewing your Google Alerts may also help you spot opportunities to correct any misinformation or thank authors for positive coverage of you.

Review your old social media activity

There’s no fast way to do this. You’ll need to log into each of your social media accounts individually and review your profile information, photos, posts and interactions to make sure there’s nothing housed on these sites that could be held against you (or give away too much information about you). Most of these platforms have search and/or activity log features that enable you to review all your past actions.

How to protect your digital footprint         

If all this talk of your online footprint is making you uncomfortable, don’t worry – there are plenty of things you can do to safeguard your digital reputation and protect your sensitive information.

Be mindful sharing of personal data online

The less you share, the harder it is for cybercriminals to analyse your digital footprint, and the better reputation you’ll have overall. Remove references to your personal phone number and email address and take a breath before posting anything that could be perceived in a negative light in the future; it might come back to haunt you.

Use strong, unique passwords and utilise a password manager

This should be common practice, but it’s easy to resort back to familiar passwords, most of which are easily hackable. To keep attackers at bay, use complex pass phrases that combine letters, numbers and symbols, and don’t be tempted to use easily guessed information like birthdays or names. Using a reputable password manager will help you generate and store passwords for each account.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible

Activate 2FA on your accounts to add an extra layer of security. This usually involves a secondary verification step, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password.

Delete old accounts

Regularly audit your online accounts and close any that you no longer use. This will reduce the number of places where your data is stored, and in turn lower the risk of breaches.

Regularly review social media privacy settings

Take back as much control over your social visibility as you can! Check to make sure your profiles and their contents are not visible to the public and learn how to maximise the privacy settings on each site. 

Avoid logging in with Facebook

Sidestep potential security risks by finding another way to access third-party sites that request you login using your Facebook credentials. You don’t need to be sharing your social media sign-in data unnecessarily.

Frequently update your software

Outdated software typically contains a ton of data points that could be more easily accessed by cybercriminals. Make sure everything you use is updated regularly so it’s running the latest security patches.

Use security software

Cybersecurity threats come in all shapes and forms, so you need to install a high-grade anti-virus solution across all your devices that can stop any intruders in their tracks. SUPERAntiSpyware’s Professional X Edition package protects every PC against malware, spyware, trojan attempts, keyloggers, and much more. It also quarantines any potential files and deletes them securely, if required.

Review your mobile apps

The last thing you want to do is review all those lengthy terms and conditions – but take a moment to read each app’s user agreement so you know precisely what you’re signing up for and how your data might be used by the app’s creators. If it turns out they’re mining personal information, you may want to find an alternative that doesn’t store data on, for example, your location or your online activities.

Use a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) masks your IP address and encrypts your internet connection, making it more difficult for third parties to track your online activities. Choose a reputable VPN service and activate it whenever you’re browsing the internet, especially on public or unsecured networks.

Who can see my digital footprint?  

Remember, it’s not just you who can see your online footprint. Your web profile is visible to:

  • Employers
  • Schools
  • Colleges
  • Hackers
  • Peers
  • Internet providers
  • Phone companies
  • Advertisers
  • Law enforcement
  • Data brokers

This is why you need to:

  • Understand how data about you is collected online, whether actively or passively
  • Take steps to minimize the personal information you share online
  • Protect your data as far as you can, using the methods listed earlier
  • Regularly review your digital footprint and remove any references or content that could affect your reputation
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How to wipe a hard drive

Using a drill to destroy a hard disk drive

If you’re selling your computer on and want to get rid of your files for privacy reasons – or simply want to erase everything on the system and start afresh – you’ll need to wipe your hard drive completely clean.

When you delete a file in the usual way, the operating system removes the reference to the file from the file system’s index, so it’s not easily discoverable. However, the data itself remains on the hard drive until it’s overwritten by new data. Deleted files can often be recovered using specialized software because the actual data still exists on the disk. Wiping a hard drive goes a step further by overwriting the entire drive’s data with zeros, ones, or random data multiple times. This process ensures that the original data is irretrievable, even with advanced recovery tools, making it a much more effective way to get rid of anything you don’t want others to see.

Wiping can be done on individual files, partitions, or the entire drive, depending on the method used. The process is slightly different on Windows and Mac devices, too.

Read on to discover when it’s appropriate to wipe a hard drive, the steps you need to follow to get rid of your files forever, and some of the third-party tools that can support you along the way. 

When should I wipe a hard drive? 

There are several instances where it makes sense to wipe your hard drive:

When replacing an old computer

Ready to swap your device for a new one? When you’re selling or donating your computer, you don’t want the new owner to access your personal data, including your files, emails, photos, or saved passwords. Wiping the hard drive ensures that all your personal information is completely removed, preventing potential identity theft or data breaches.

When replacing a damaged hard drive

Broken hard drives aren’t much use, but they can still be harbouring some of your personal data. Make sure none of it is recoverable by wiping the drive regardless of its condition.

When upgrading to an SSD

Keen to invest in a better performing hard drive? It’s best to perform a hard disk wipe after you’ve migrated all your data to your new solid-state drive (SSD).

Refreshing an old hard drive

Sometimes, a computer can become sluggish or cluttered with unnecessary files, software, and configurations. If you’re experiencing significant performance issues or want to start fresh without any old data, wiping the drive before you reinstall the operating system can help.

Preparing to wipe your hard drive

Before you commit to the wipe process, we would recommend backing up any critical files. You can copy important files, documents, photos, and other data to an external hard drive or USB flash drive – or alternatively, you can use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive for secure file storage in the cloud.

You could consider creating a full system image or clone of your hard drive if you decide you want to restore your system to its current state later.

You might also want to:

  • Deauthorize accounts and software, so these licenses are no longer tied to a specific computer
  • Note down product keys and serial numbers, particularly if you’re planning to reinstall software
  • Sign out of accounts you were using on that specific device, and clear any saved passwords
  • Disconnect any external hardware
  • Make sure you’ve got the correct drivers on hand for reinstalling the OS
  • Tell other users of the same computer that the data will soon be wiped, and encourage them to back up their own data

How to wipe a hard drive on Mac      

The method you use for wiping your MacOS will depend on the type of Mac you have. You can find out what you’re working with by clicking the Apple menu in the top left of the screen and heading over to About This Mac.

Devices with a silicon chip       

If you use a Mac that was manufactured after 2020, it will likely contain Apple silicon chips, aka M1, M2 or M3 processors. You can wipe the hard drive by:

  • Going to System Settings
  • Clicking on General, then Transfer or Reset
  • Clicking Erase All Content and Settings

From there, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the wipe. The Mac will restart and reactivate, and you’ll be ready to go.

Devices with Intel processors

For Macs that were produced prior to 2020, you’ll need to follow the process to suit its Intel processor. You can use the Disk Utility function to delete the hard drive by:

  • Shutting down the computer and rebooting it
  • Holding the Command + R keys during the reboot until the Apple logo appears
  • Entering your password if required
  • Selecting Disk Utility in the Utilities window, then clicking Continue
  • Selecting Macintosh HD (or the name you gave to your hard drive, if you’ve customized it)
  • Clicking Erase in the toolbar
  • Confirming the hard drive name
  • Selecting APFS under the Format menu, and clicking Erase

Devices with an SSD        

SSD drives aren’t as simple to wipe. For the best results, you’ll need to encrypt your files before you get rid of them, otherwise they might still be accessible.

  1. Go to System Preferences
  2. Click Security & Privacy and select FileVault
  3. Enable FileVault; this will encrypt your hard drive. It might take a few hours. Make a note of the password that’s given to you, as you’ll need it later
  4. When the encryption is complete, reboot your Mac and hold down the Command + R keys during startup
  5. Go to Desk Utility in the Utilities Window
  6. Choose the correct SSD drive from the sidebar, select Unlock from the File menu, and enter the password you received earlier
  7. Click Erase in the toolbar
  8. Confirm the hard drive name
  9. Select APFS under the Format menu, and click Erase
  10. Enter your AppleID in the popup window, if you need to

How to wipe an external drive with a Mac

Wiping an external MacOS hard drive is a breeze.

  1. Go to Applications
  2. Double click Disk Utility in the Utilities folder
  3. Click View, then Show All Devices
  4. Select your external hard drive from the External menu
  5. Click Erase in the toolbar
  6. Confirm the hard drive name
  7. Select APFS under the Format menu, and click Erase
  8. Enter your AppleID in the popup window, if you need to

How to wipe a hard drive on Windows      

Once you’ve backed up all your data, the best practice is to create a recovery drive so you can reinstall Windows on your new machine. To do this, you’ll need to:

  1. Go to Recovery Drive
  2. Click Yes to allow the Recovery Media Creator function to make changes to your device
  3. Check the box Back up system to the recovery drive, and click Next
  4. Connect your external drive to your device via USB
  5. Click Next, then click Create

Next, you’ll need to restart your PC in Recovery Mode. To do this:

  1. Insert the Windows installation USB drive into your computer
  2. Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive. You may need to press a specific key (like F2, F12, ESC, or DEL) to access the boot menu, depending on your computer’s manufacturer
  3. Select the USB drive from the boot menu and press Enter

Then, it’s time to wipe the hard drive:

  1. After booting from the USB drive, the Windows Setup screen will appear
  2. Select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, then click Next
  3. Click Install now
  4. Enter your product key (if required) or select I don’t have a product key
  5. Accept the license terms and click Next
  6. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
  7. Select the drive or partition you want to wipe
  8. Click on each partition on the drive and select Delete
  9. Select the unallocated space and click Next. This will automatically create new partitions and begin the Windows installation

Windows will now install itself onto the clean drive. The process may take some time, and your computer will restart several times during the installation. From here, you’ll need to follow the on-screen prompts to set up Windows, configure user accounts and preferences, and connect to the internet.

How to wipe an external drive on Windows            

You can use several third-party tools to wipe the hard drive on a Windows device, but it’s often easiest to use the Disk Management feature by following these instructions:

  1. Connect your external hard drive to the computer
  2. Press the Windows key + X
  3. Select Disk Management from the popup window
  4. Go to the Volume column and right-click the external drive
  5. Select Format, and click Yes in the next window
  6. Uncheck the box called Perform a quick format in the Format D: window and click OK, then OK again to start the disk wipe

How to wipe an SSD

Solid-state drives are generally much faster and more efficient than their hard disk equivalents, but they are harder to wipe. To make sure every last piece of your data has been deleted, we recommend wiping an SSD with either:

The Basic Input-Output System (BIOS)

You can use the in-built utilities of your SSD’s firmware to erase all data from the drive and make sure it’s unrecoverable. The feature to look for is Secure Erase; you’ll need to access this via the system’s BIOS settings (or UEFI settings if you’re working with the more modern equivalent).

If your BIOS/UEFI does not have a Secure Erase option, you’ll need to use the SSD manufacturer’s software, which often includes a bootable tool for this.

Manufacturer software

You’ll need to download the correct utility from your SSD brand. You can usually find the manufacturer information by checking the SSD model in your system settings or by physically inspecting the drive. Some common tools include Intel SSD Toolbox, SanDisk SSD Dashboard, and Samsung Magician.

Download and install the software to get started – and, as always, make sure you’ve backed your data up before you start the wipe process.

Third-party software

Some third-party options are more user-friendly than the utilities available straight from the manufacturers – and they’re just as secure. Some are free, whereas some require payment. Try CCleaner, Parted Magic, Eraser, or GParted.

How to physically wipe a hard drive on a dead computer that won’t turn on     

These may seem like drastic measures, but they’re some of the only foolproof ways to destroy the drive platter on a device that won’t start up.

To start: Disassemble the hard drive

Take apart your hard disk’s components with a screwdriver before destroying it using any of the methods listed below.

Drill holes in the hard drive

Drill a series of holes across the entire piece of hardware to make sure hackers can’t access the data in any undamaged components. You’ll need to be thorough, otherwise your data could still be at risk.

Use a powerful magnet to degauss the hard drive

Magnetic force will damage the hard disk beyond repair (although the same can’t be said for SSDs, which use electronic circuits instead of magnetic disks). Remove the magnetic field around the hard drive by waving a degaussing wand or other powerful magnet around it for around a minute. 

Send to an electronic disposal company for shredding

Contact a reputableprovider that will provide you with a quote for breaking your device into small pieces using industrial grade equipment. This will destroy the drive platters, mechanisms and electronic components beyond recognition. You’ll to make sure your shredding company disposes of or recycles the product responsibly.

Third-party tools that help to wipe a hard drive      

Designed to make the wiping process even easier, third-party software can make getting rid of your sensitive data quick and painless. Discover some of the most popular third-party hard drive wiping tools below and click on their names to download them. 

CCleaner: Though its primary purpose is freeing up space, CCleaner can also be used to wipe your hard drive totally clean. It’s compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, MacOS and Android, and it’s one of the most intuitive tools of its kind.

DBAN: Otherwise known as Darin’s Boot and Nuke, DBAN is a recognised program that can be initiated from a USB or a CD. It uses an algorithm to overwrite the information on your hard disk drive many times. Please note, DBAN isn’t ideal for wiping SSDs. It’s also best suited to home use. And just a heads up – development for DBAN also stopped in 2015, so it hasn’t received any new bug fixes or support for a few years now.

Disk Wipe: Simple by name and simple in nature, this works in a similar way to DBAN. It’s a Windows-only tool and works on memory devices that are accessible and formatted with either NTFS, Fat, or Fat32.

Active KillDisk Freeware: This sanitization tool’s One Pass Zero method replaces all the data on your drive with zeros, so you can wave a permanent goodbye to everything that was stored on your device.It can be installed across Windows, MacOS and Linux, and it’s great for erasing multiple disks at the same time.

CBL Data Shredder: This overwrites your hard drive witha more complicated bit pattern, so the data cannot be recovered. It’s designed for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard: This tool’s Wipe Hard Drive feature will get rid of your data permanently. There’s also a lot more to this software than meets the eye; it offers a safe hard drive manager, a data migrator, a disk converter and a partition recovery feature, plus more.

ShredOS/Nwipe: This is a USB bootable distribution that works with all Intel 32 and 64 bit processors and erases the contents of a hard drive using the nwipe program.

Eraser: This is an advanced security tool for Windowsthat, at the time of writing, is supported under Windows XP (with Service Pack 3), Windows Server 2003 (with Service Pack 2), Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Server 2012-2022.An added benefit of Eraser is, it also works with a customisable scheduler, so disk sweep tasks can be planned ahead of time and executed whenever suits you best.

A final piece of advice…

If a virus has corrupted your system and its data, you may need to perform a hard drive wipe to start from scratch. You’re much less likely to fall victim to a malicious attack (and have to deal with the fallout!) if you have robust anti-virus and anti-malware protection in place.

SUPERAntiSpyware’s Professional X Edition will stop threats in their tracks long before they have a chance to get to your sensitive information. With an AI-powered detection engine, real-time threat blocker automatic database updates and scheduled scanning, it’s a user-friendly and super convenient software that’s more affordable than you might expect.