ESSENTIAL THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU SELL YOUR OLD COMPUTER FOR CYBERSECURITY PURPOSES

This is one of the ways for you to make some cash from the sale of your old computer or that other laptop that you don’t use. When selling your old computer, it is important to take steps to protect your personal information and ensure that the device does not pose a cybersecurity risk to the new owner. Here are some essential things to do before you sell your old computer for cybersecurity purposes to enable you protect your personal information:

Back up your data

Before selling your computer, back up any important data that you want to keep, such as photos, documents, and other files. This will ensure that you don’t lose any important information and can help you transfer data to a new device. Use your external hard disk or use cloud storage service to store your data.

Erase your hard drive: Deleting files from your computer is not enough to protect your personal information. Use a data wiping tool to erase the hard drive completely. This will prevent anyone from recovering your personal data from the computer after you sell it.

Remove software and apps

Remove any unnecessary software or apps from your computer, especially those that contain sensitive information or may pose a security risk. Be sure to uninstall software properly rather than simply deleting the application’s folder or shortcut.

Deauthorize your computer

Deauthorize your computer from any software, apps, or services that you used on it. This can include iTunes, Adobe Creative Cloud, and others. This ensures that the new owner cannot access your accounts and data after you sell the computer.

Disable and reset accounts

Disable any accounts that are associated with your computer and reset the passwords before selling it. This includes email, social media, and other online accounts that you may have accessed on your computer.

Check for malware and viruses

Run a malware and virus scan on your computer to ensure that there are no harmful programs on it. Remove any detected malware or viruses before selling your computer.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your personal information is protected and the old computer does not pose a cybersecurity risk to the new owner.