A UK and Australian Study of Hard Disk Disposal

Recent studies in Australia and the United Kingdom indicate that a broad cross-section of organisations are failing to adequately protect or erase confidential data stored on hard disk drives before subsequent disposal. Over 90% of hard disks that were examined as a result of the two Independent studies were in an easily recoverable state with some drives simply requiring a boot. This paper will give an overview and comparison of the two studies conducted. Then an examination of possible factors responsible for the inadequate erasure of hard disk devices will be undertaken. Furthermore, possible future research directions will also be explored