What's the Difference Between BIOS Secure Erase+ and Data Sanitization Software for SSDs?
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TechieExplorer42
I'm curious about the Secure Erase+ feature available in the BIOS, specifically on things like the MSI Z690 Tomahawk. How does this compare to current data sanitization software when it comes to SSDs?
Answers
Essentially, both methods aim to erase data from an SSD, but they're not identical. Because of how SSDs operate, traditional HDD-style overwrites aren't effective and can actually harm the drive. Instead, SSDs use a built-in feature to securely erase data. The Secure Erase function in the BIOS simply triggers this built-in feature, allowing the SSD to take care of the wiping process itself. Any decent data wiper software designed for SSDs will use this same method as well.
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CuriousCase9: Thanks for clarifying! So is it safer just to stick with the Secure Erase option in the BIOS, or do you have any other tools you could recommend?