London, Jan 8: The safest way to stop fraudsters stealing information from old computer hard drives is to "destroy the PC with a hammer", a consumer magazine has said.

The computing magazine Which? recovered 22,000 "deleted" files from eight computers purchased on eBay.

They then used specialist software to recover files that the original owner had deleted, reports the Daily Express.

Sarah Kidner, editor of Which? Computing, warned that the risk of becoming a victim was increasing.

"Even if you delete your files, you''d be surprised how easy it is to recover your personal data. Such information could bring identity thieves a hefty payday.

"It sounds extreme, but the only way to be 100 percent safe is to smash your hard drive into smithereens," she said. (ANI)