• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

securely erasing hard drive?

M

marathonloser

Junior Member
i've heard that data can be easily recovered from a formatted hard drive and that the data needs to be randomized 7 times or something like that. i have a laptop im getting rid of, how do i make sure the data is gone & unreachable
 
It cost thousands for that data to be retrieved.

Smash the hard drive if you do not want anyone to find anything.
 
It cost thousands for that data to be retrieved.
Click to expand...
If the drive is just formatted, I can recover it in 2 minutes.

There are tons of utilities to do what you want out there - many are free. Killdisk is one. Do a google search on 'hard disk erasing utility' or something like that and you'll find 'em.
 
For the vast majority of situations, use the drive maker's free downloadable bootable utility disk to write the drive to zeroes. Only sophisticated forensic methods can recover the data. For really sensitive stuff, like recycling drives from law firms, accountants, child pornograpers, a utility like DBAN will put the info beyond all but the most sophisticated techniques. Be careful if you decide to use it, as it will systematically identify and nuke every drive in the machine. It also takes a long time to run on larger drives, so set it to run at bedtime, all clean in the morning..
 
Originally posted by: bozo1
It cost thousands for that data to be retrieved.
Click to expand...
If the drive is just formatted, I can recover it in 2 minutes.

There are tons of utilities to do what you want out there - many are free. Killdisk is one. Do a google search on 'hard disk erasing utility' or something like that and you'll find 'em.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that... They can recover an enitre drive?
 
Originally posted by: bjc112
Originally posted by: bozo1
It cost thousands for that data to be retrieved.
Click to expand...
If the drive is just formatted, I can recover it in 2 minutes.

There are tons of utilities to do what you want out there - many are free. Killdisk is one. Do a google search on 'hard disk erasing utility' or something like that and you'll find 'em.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that... They can recover an enitre drive?
Click to expand...

Yep. If you've got the money, you can get almost anything done.

I find running the HDs manufacturer's zeroing utility about three times does the trick nicely.
 
Yeah formats secure nothing, a single overwrite of 0's will make it invulnerable to software recovery, and doing that 12-16 times, will make it impossible for the FBI to get at, in order to retreive data after one time of zeroing out the hd, you need to have a specialist open it up and do stuff to recover the data and spend loads of money.
 
Originally posted by: bjc112
Originally posted by: bozo1
It cost thousands for that data to be retrieved.
Click to expand...
If the drive is just formatted, I can recover it in 2 minutes.

There are tons of utilities to do what you want out there - many are free. Killdisk is one. Do a google search on 'hard disk erasing utility' or something like that and you'll find 'em.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that... They can recover an enitre drive?
Click to expand...

Dude, goto download.com and search for hard drive recovery, a lot of apps will come up 🙂 some work extremily well, and can basically undo a format, and some suck, but that's just how apps are.
 
I just use my norton systemwork's wife info...i use the 7 step goevernment wipe. It uses's Department of Defense's specified method in document 5220.22-m National Industry Security Program Operating Manual.
 
Originally posted by: wetcat007
Originally posted by: bjc112
Originally posted by: bozo1
It cost thousands for that data to be retrieved.
Click to expand...
If the drive is just formatted, I can recover it in 2 minutes.

There are tons of utilities to do what you want out there - many are free. Killdisk is one. Do a google search on 'hard disk erasing utility' or something like that and you'll find 'em.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that... They can recover an enitre drive?
Click to expand...

Dude, goto download.com and search for hard drive recovery, a lot of apps will come up 🙂 some work extremily well, and can basically undo a format, and some suck, but that's just how apps are.
Click to expand...


That cool, didn't know there were freeware programs to undo a format or something of that nature...

😀
 
Originally posted by: Jhhnn
For the vast majority of situations, use the drive maker's free downloadable bootable utility disk to write the drive to zeroes. Only sophisticated forensic methods can recover the data. For really sensitive stuff, like recycling drives from law firms, accountants, child pornograpers, a utility like DBAN will put the info beyond all but the most sophisticated techniques. Be careful if you decide to use it, as it will systematically identify and nuke every drive in the machine. It also takes a long time to run on larger drives, so set it to run at bedtime, all clean in the morning..
Click to expand...
marathonloser ---> DBAN is your best bet. Short of physically/electromagnetically damaging the drive.

Thorin
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top