[vox-tech] [Lug-nuts] Secure Wiping hard drives

[Darth Borehd]

Anything requiring power tools, sledgehammers, drills, or small bits flying
off is vetoed by the company HR due to safety.  Shotgun is *WAY* out.
(Except for maybe the Texas office).

Vinegar?  Would that really work?  I imagine HR would say no the hydrogen
waste gas too, if not the smell would disrupt the office workers in the
next room.

DBAN takes 2 to 3 hours but is thorough.

And it looks like repartitioning is about as secure as putting a yellow
sticker on it that says "erased".

:/


On 11 May 2012 13:54, Mikies Runs Baal <mikiesrunsbaal.sec at sbcglobal.net>wrote:

>  Government standards for a security wipe is a rewrite done 7 times. Many
> manufacturers have a Low-Level Format utility that can be used. However,
> some intelligent drives actually block a LLF, but FALSELY report as
> completed!
>
> Dismantling a drive only requires a reassemble to regain access to any
> recoverable data.
>
> The hammer or shotgun technique does not destroy data. So, any chunks
> large enough can be used to recover partial files.
>
> Since, data platters are made of metallic alloys like aluminum, they are
> highly susceptible to irrecoverable damage by acids. Drill multiple holes
> in the drive case, and drop in a bucket of vinegar, and forget. BTW, no
> smoking. This method generates lots of hydrogen gas which s highly
> explosive. Best to use in area with lots of ventilation.
>
> IMHO,
>
> MJR
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 5/11/2012 9:32 AM, Darth Borehd wrote:
>
> We need a fast way to securely wipe hard drives.
>
> Is there really any way to recover data after doing 1 pass writing zeros
> to every sector? (This is what we are doing now using the free version of
> Active Killbits, but it takes over an hour per hard drive.)
>
> If we repartition and reformat Windows NTFS drives as Ext3, is there any
> way to recover data from them?  (We found this method is faster, but are
> not sure if it is as secure as the above.)
>
> The company will not pay for a degausser.
>
> Safety requirements prevent us from doing physical destruction of the
> "sledge-o-matic" variety.
>
> We use a computer recycler, but do not trust them 100% to destroy our
> data.  We know for a fact that equipment they get from us sit unguarded in
> a warehouse for months before destruction.
>
> Interested in hearing opinions on this.
>
>
>
>
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