Data remanence is the data that remains on media after an attempt to erase it. Deleting a file usually removes only the pointer to it, leaving the contents on disk until they are overwritten. A quick format often does little more. Anyone with recovery tools could read that residue, which is why sanitization must match both the sensitivity of the data and the type of media. Remanence is a risk whenever media is reused, returned at the end of a lease, sent for repair, sold or thrown away.
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