How secure is a hidden partition?

[Sukhoi]

On my new computer I'm going to have a 60 GB main HDD and a 20-30 GB backup HDD. The backup HDD will have a visible partition for swap files and CD images, and a hidden partitions that I want to keep images of the 60 GB HDD on. How secure is this hidden partition from a virus? Am I still wide open, or am I pretty safe from attack considering hidden partitions are pretty rare and it'd be doubtful that a virus writer would code for one? Thanks!

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

hidden partition eh? if you're using nt/2k/xp you could just not mount the partition, and that would have the same effect, and keep it safe. (unless the virus/whatever directly writes to the hard disk, that would be a nasty virus :Q)

 

[Sukhoi]

I'll be dualbooting XP Pro and 98SE, but in XP Pro 99% of the time. I'm only putting 98SE on there for the rare game incompatibility. I hadn't thought of not mounting it, good idea.

 

[Bglad]

If you really want a secure backup, get a removeable hard drive slot. They are only about $20. Backup to that drive and remove it for safekeeping. It is the only truly safe backup solution.

 

[CTho9305]

<< On my new computer I'm going to have a 60 GB main HDD and a 20-30 GB backup HDD. The backup HDD will have a visible partition for swap files and CD images, and a hidden partitions that I want to keep images of the 60 GB HDD on. How secure is this hidden partition from a virus? Am I still wide open, or am I pretty safe from attack considering hidden partitions are pretty rare and it'd be doubtful that a virus writer would code for one? Thanks! >>


well, if the virus does an equivalent of "dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/hda", it doesn't matter how you're partitioned

 

[Sukhoi]

Ok, I guess I'll go check out a removable HDD bracket, or just unplug the drive when I'm not backing stuff up.

 

[Bglad]

This is the way to go. You can't put your swap file on it but it is a completely safe backup. That leaves the only possible failure being if both drives failed at the same time. Not likely.

 

[Sukhoi]

Those look very nice! Newegg even has the RH-17 for $18. Do you know if the fan turns off when the HDD is removed? Newegg mentions something about a "Power-switch lock" so does that mean the lock cuts the power to the entire unit? That'd be real nice..

 

[Bglad]

Yes, it does turn off. The key is electrically wired to be an on/off switch. You must use the key to lock in the drive or the drive will not work. This turns off the fan and hopefully prevents anyone from mistakenly removing the drive while the computer is on.

 

[Sukhoi]

Awesome!! I can't believe something like this is only $20!