I want to sell (or donate) my HP Mini 1000 netbook, but I am concerned about identity theft and securing personal information with the transition to a new user.
I am running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. The netbook has a 16 GB solid state drive. I am under the impression that different methods are required to securely erase an SSD, compared to a traditional hard drive.
How do I do this and prepare this computer for sale (or donation)? It is not important whether the computer can still boot the operating system after this erase - only that an operating system can again be installed.
I have tried to read about this in many places on the web, including in askubuntu, but the process is never explained in sufficiently clear, jargon-free language. Or perhaps it is, but I still don't understand how to do this! Can I do this without procuring software? If I need to get software, what should I get?
Essentially, can anyone explain how I do this to someone who, you can assume, knows very little about computers, but can competently follow directions?
Thanks in advance!