More clarification on erasing HD

[marmasatt]

Hi All,

Don't mean to start another erasing HD thread but I just have a few additional questions. First off, from what I gather, just reformatting your HD does nothing really? If someone wants the info enough, they can get it? I mean, I have nothing to hide, just a few credit card numbers (from on-line purchases) as it was only used a month and a half. Should I be worried about passwords etc? I reformatted and would like to sell on FS/FT. It just about a brand new 60 G drive.... I feel like if anyone wanted to recoup the data I had on there (a few games and a few passwords) then fine, go for it. Is this attitude a mistake? I got no reason to smash it and no reason to keep it. What does everyone else do when I see all these HD's for sale? Thanks.

 

[Superman9534]

just Zero the drive and you'll be fine. They would need exremely expensive services to recover the data.

 

[ChefJoe]

I've sold old HDs that weren't cleaned too well to people... was somewhat dumb on my part. There are lots of utils that are for gov't grade erasing - usu. they overwrite and then erase a number of times. Do a search for hard drive erase or something like that at download.com or in the software forum.

 

[thorin]

Don't mean to start another erasing HD thread

Liar!

1) Go here
2) Type "erase" in the Search Phrase field
3) Make sure General Hardware is selected
4) Read (and become enlightened with all the answers to your questions without everyone here repeating themselves 50 times over because you were to lazy to search)

Thorin

PS > Yes I'm in a b!tchy mood today....DON'T ASK

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: Superman9534
just Zero the drive and you'll be fine. They would need exremely expensive services to recover the data.

WRONG

Thorin

 

[konichiwa]

They make software for the paranoid. PGP as well as several other freeware, shareware and payware tools (check google, download.com, hotfiles.com, tucows.com) will erase your data about as well as it can be erased.

They can do this as you go (in place of Windows' recycle bin) by overwriting your data 1,5,10,100 (user definable) times with "junk" algorithms specifically designed to hide the original data. They can also format with zero's many times over to clean every scrap of data from your hard drive.

Of course, if you are Osama bin Laden, the NSA will always be able to recover your data. Think magnetic field decoders, etc. But if you're just worried about some average joe, any of the aformentioned programs will work. If you are Osama bin Laden and you are concerned about the NSA finding your data, I suggest you:

1) Don't sell it on FS/FT
2) Invest in a blowtorch and a twelve pack
3) Enjoy

 

[buleyb]

The purpose of the magic "7" time overright method used by the DoD is that you can't recover the data using magnetic field decoders. The use of the changing bit patterns per pass is done so the field created from the original data is ruined (thereby rendering the data unrecoverable). The problem with many of the OS based tools for wiping/shreding individual files is that they can't always remove all of it (because of data in memory, swap files, backup systems, hardware buffers on the drive and mobo, etc).

To answer the original question. Formatting simple replaces the file system table (destroying the 'map' to all the files on the drive/partition). People can't directly see the files, so they assume its ok.

Writing zeros over the entire drive doesn't work because its easy(with the right equipment) to filter out the fields created by the zeros and detect the remaining field from the original data. There is plenty of software/hardware available to do this, it just isn't always cheap

If you want to sell/trade a drive, and you are slightly concerned about personal records or corporate data, a DoD approved wiping program will do just fine for you, thats the reason the DoD made the standards (because they have data they don't want people getting too )

And Thorin, hope your day gets better

 

[marmasatt]

Yeah Yeah Thorin, I know. That is the exact thread I read 5 minutes before I posted. Now, I've kind of rephrased the question and gotten 2 or 3 different opinions again (which is fine I suppose - that's what I came here for). But the point is, some people say screw it - a single reformat and sell it, some do the zeroing, some do the erase 7 times through and some use the freeware programs. I mean I have taken it out of my system already. It's sitting in the original box in the antistatic bag ready to rock and roll...... So it's a mistake to sell it right now? I just don't know how much of a risk it is. I'm thinking not likely, but if I happen to sell to some Jirk-0ff who wants to snoop around a bit.....The repercussions are trouble (using credit card #'s or my identity, etc). If you were me, would you a) put it back in and run a few more times through or b) download a quick erase program, or c) stop being so paranoid and leave it?

 

[thorin]

It's not like it's rocket science to connect it and run DBAN or similar on it and have no worries. You don't even have to mount it securely in your case just let is dangle with one end on the bottom of your case or set you case on it's side and connect it and just leave it sitting on the drive cage. Remove it from the bag connect to wires and you're set.....what's the big debate? Either you give a crap about your identity and your data and it's possible theft or you don't ..... there's no grey area just decide. BTW the search suggested returns more then one thread.......

Thorin

 

[marmasatt]

You're right. It's not really rocket science. I'm just lazy. I think the dangle and DBAN it is then. Thanks. Just wanted verification that the risks outweigh my laziness. Both my search and your shortcut link only returned one thread by the way. Is there a filter? And lighten up dude. Noobs come here for info, not shiat, biatch. Did I say that out loud?
J/k. Thanks again. ; )

 

[Gage8]

Originally posted by: buleyb


And Thorin, hope your day gets better

don't we all......j/k

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: marmasatt
You're right. It's not really rocket science. I'm just lazy. I think the dangle and DBAN it is then. Thanks. Just wanted verification that the risks outweigh my laziness. Both my search and your shortcut link only returned one thread by the way. Is there a filter? And lighten up dude. Noobs come here for info, not shiat, biatch. Did I say that out loud?
J/k. Thanks again. ; )

Heh...... I hear ya LAZY NOOB! heh....jk

Of 10 threads returned by the previously mentioned search the following provided all the info you needed:
1) How do you 'physically' erase a HDD?
2) How to completely erase your hard drive?
3) Clean erase of hard drive
and
4) Erase A HDD for sale?

Originally posted by: Gage8

Originally posted by: buleyb


And Thorin, hope your day gets better

don't we all......j/k

Thanks Guys!

Thorin