HDD deletion

  • Thread starter Thread starter alex
  • Start date Start date
A

alex

Heya all :)

What are your opinions on so called HD-killer "application"?
I never really tried it, for obvious reasons :) but I would really
like to hear some more input on the subject...

Also, there is an interesting application out there, called
m-sweep pro:
http://www.secure-data.com/ms.html

Has anyone here used it yet?
 
The program wipes free space. A funny excert from that web page:

Who can, and can't, get M-Sweep Pro?

This unique security software is the most effective product available.
Unfortunately this software can be used to eliminate evidence of criminal
violations and terrorist activities. For that reason, NTI restricts the sale of
the product to Fortune 1000 corporations, government agencies, pre-qualified
law firms, pre-qualified accounting firms, hospitals and pre-qualified law
enforcement agencies. Unlike some of our competitors, we continue to restrict
the sale of all of our security and computer forensics software utilities. In
the wrong hands, such software can be used to further criminal acts and
intelligence gathering efforts against US government agencies and US-based
corporations. NTI does not sell its products to the general public.
 
alex said:
Heya all :)

What are your opinions on so called HD-killer "application"?
I never really tried it, for obvious reasons :) but I would really
like to hear some more input on the subject...

Also, there is an interesting application out there, called
m-sweep pro:
http://www.secure-data.com/ms.html

Has anyone here used it yet?
Click to expand...

I cannot understand the problem.

For the sake of the cost of a new drive (minimal, and derisory when
compared with the potential damage that can be caused by data getting
into the wrong hands) why not take a sledgehammer to it?

Why on earth does everyone seem to have a problem with this? Destroy
the damn drive - physically - and be done with it.




Odie
 
Odie Ferrous said:
I cannot understand the problem.

For the sake of the cost of a new drive (minimal, and derisory when
compared with the potential damage that can be caused by data getting
into the wrong hands) why not take a sledgehammer to it?

Why on earth does everyone seem to have a problem with this? Destroy
the damn drive - physically - and be done with it.
Click to expand...

Too crude and primitive for me.
 
Eric said:
The program wipes free space. A funny excert from that web page:

Who can, and can't, get M-Sweep Pro?

This unique security software is the most effective product available.
Unfortunately this software can be used to eliminate evidence of criminal
violations and terrorist activities. For that reason, NTI restricts the sale of
the product to Fortune 1000 corporations, government agencies, pre-qualified
law firms, pre-qualified accounting firms, hospitals and pre-qualified law
enforcement agencies. Unlike some of our competitors, we continue to restrict
the sale of all of our security and computer forensics software utilities. In
the wrong hands, such software can be used to further criminal acts and
intelligence gathering efforts against US government agencies and US-based
corporations. NTI does not sell its products to the general public.
Click to expand...

What a load of horse puckey! (Not you, Eric; I'm referring to that
asinine statement from the vendor.)

Since Eraser is available to anybody for free, I can't imagine why
any rational person would pay heaps of money for M-Sweep Pro. Maybe,
just maybe, P. T. Barnum was right.
 
I cannot understand the problem.
Click to expand...
For the sake of the cost of a new drive (minimal, and derisory when
compared with the potential damage that can be caused by data getting
into the wrong hands) why not take a sledgehammer to it?
Click to expand...
Why on earth does everyone seem to have a problem with this? Destroy
the damn drive - physically - and be done with it.
Click to expand...

Because people don't want to spend money but want to be absolute
secure at the same time...

My personal rule is simple:
- Personal secrets: One overwrite. Will be enough against all but
national security agencies.
- National security: Physical destruction

In doubt default to the second. So far I have done two trial runs
for the second on dead drives. I also use the first just to clean
drives.

The question of security level is not really one of how many
overwrites. Several overwrites are not much more secure than one
today IMO. Reallocated sectors will not be erased. Good sectors
will not be recoverable by commercial data recovery outfits
(or at least they don't admit they can do it, which means they
likely cannot, since if they could they would sell that capability).

An attacke that has more ressources than using commercial data
recovery outfits is rare IMO. If your data need to be secure
against one, you will not mind going for physical destruction.

Arno
 
Rod Speed said:
So is any decent wipe ute and you can reuse the drive.
Click to expand...

....which brings us back to my question, actually:

to sum up:
what app do you guys use *in RL* for safe and permanent deletion of
data on working hdd?
 
Arno Wagner said:
Because people don't want to spend money but want to be absolute
secure at the same time...
Click to expand...

Exactly.
:)

two things somewhat difficult to come by, though...
My personal rule is simple:
- Personal secrets: One overwrite. Will be enough against all but
national security agencies.
- National security: Physical destruction

In doubt default to the second. So far I have done two trial runs
for the second on dead drives. I also use the first just to clean
drives.
Click to expand...

which application you use?
The question of security level is not really one of how many
overwrites. Several overwrites are not much more secure than one
today IMO. Reallocated sectors will not be erased.
Good sectors
will not be recoverable by commercial data recovery outfits
(or at least they don't admit they can do it, which means they
likely cannot, since if they could they would sell that capability).
Click to expand...

hmm.
VOGON seems to disagree with you.

An attacke that has more ressources than using commercial data
recovery outfits is rare IMO. If your data need to be secure
against one, you will not mind going for physical destruction.
Click to expand...

Quite true.

:)
 
Odie Ferrous said:
Why on earth does everyone seem to have a problem with this? Destroy
the damn drive - physically - and be done with it.
Click to expand...

perhaps because one wants to get rid of certain stuff and keep using
hdd?
 
alex said:
...which brings us back to my question, actually:

to sum up:
what app do you guys use *in RL* for safe and permanent deletion of
data on working hdd?
Click to expand...

Evidence eliminator is a good choice.
 
...which brings us back to my question, actually:
Click to expand...
to sum up:
what app do you guys use *in RL* for safe and
permanent deletion of data on working hdd?
Click to expand...

I dont bother myself, I ensure that all data that matters
is fully encrypted so there is no need to delete it.
 
Previously alex said:
two things somewhat difficult to come by, though...
Click to expand...
which application you use?
Click to expand...

Does not need an application, I am a Linux user. The task is close
to trivial from a technological point of view.
All the following will work fine (hdb is the target) :

cat /dev/zero > /dev/hdb
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hdb
dd_rescue /dev/zero /dev/hdb

hmm.
VOGON seems to disagree with you.
Click to expand...

Have a reference for that? I am not about to conduct a field
test, but c't did an anonymous one last year: They claimed to have
accidentally overwritten a very important file on a current HDD
and whether they could have it _please_ recoverd? They contacted
several major data-recovery outfits and all said they could
not do that type of job.
Quite true.
Click to expand...
:)
Click to expand...

Arno
 
Arno Wagner said:
Does not need an application, I am a Linux user. The task is close
to trivial from a technological point of view.
All the following will work fine (hdb is the target) :

cat /dev/zero > /dev/hdb
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hdb
dd_rescue /dev/zero /dev/hdb
Click to expand...

will have to try this one...
tnx.
Have a reference for that? I am not about to conduct a field
test, but c't did an anonymous one last year: They claimed to have
accidentally overwritten a very important file on a current HDD
and whether they could have it _please_ recoverd? They contacted
several major data-recovery outfits and all said they could
not do that type of job.
Click to expand...

Well, no first hand experience, but from what I hear they are quite
good...

Of course, it is just a sales pitch, but anyway:

Case Studies
If there is any DATA, anywhere ON your DISK or TAPE, it can be
RECOVERED. In short, our expertise is your reassurance: your data is
in the safest hands, anywhere.

link:
http://www.vogon-international.com/data-recovery/data-recovery.htm

their web site could be better, though...
 
Ann Onimus said:
Evidence eliminator is a good choice.
Click to expand...

yeah, looks like a good piece of software.

The Eraser proposed by Bob is also a good choice.
Will have to try both apps...
 
Rod Speed said:
I dont bother myself, I ensure that all data that matters
is fully encrypted so there is no need to delete it.
Click to expand...

Yes, good point.

PGP maybe. I hear that after 6.5.3. version they closed the
source code...
Only god and those funny 3 letter agencies know what they put in
there...
:-)
:)
 
Back
Top