Low level format or wipe?
 

Just curious what people's thoughts were as to the best way to wipe a
drive for security reasons. I am more of the disposition of wiping
with a low level format (rewritting the drive with all zeros). Would
software such as KillDisk or Boot n' Nuke be a better option?

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

On Jul 10, 1:44 pm, cizzo <phl...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Just curious what people's thoughts were as to the best way to wipe a
> drive for security reasons. I am more of the disposition of wiping
> with a low level format (rewritting the drive with all zeros). Would
> software such as KillDisk or Boot n' Nuke be a better option?

This is probably not a very good question on my part =)
Running Boot n' Nuke just now the "low level format" is specified as
Quick Erase good for getting rid of errors and for redeployment in the
same organization. If the disk needs to be disposed of I suppose the
DoD (Department of Defense) standard would be better suited for the
task.

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

cizzo <phliex@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:1184096653.016528.18990@z28g2000prd.googlegro ups.com:

> Just curious what people's thoughts were as to the best way to wipe a
> drive for security reasons. I am more of the disposition of wiping
> with a low level format (rewritting the drive with all zeros). Would
> software such as KillDisk or Boot n' Nuke be a better option?
>

Try the freeware "Eraser". It comes with instructions to create a boot
disk which will completely wipe a hard drive.

<http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/>

HTH,
John

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

cizzo aka phliex@hotmail.com on 7/10/2007 at 3:44:13 PM in
24hoursupport.helpdesk<1184096653.016528.18990@z28 g2000prd.googlegroups.
com> after much thought,came up with this jewel:

> Just curious what people's thoughts were as to the best way to wipe a
> drive for security reasons. I am more of the disposition of wiping
> with a low level format (rewritting the drive with all zeros). Would
> software such as KillDisk or Boot n' Nuke be a better option?

a 10 pound hammer works the best(use outdoors).

max
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Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

"cizzo" wrote in message
news:1184096653.016528.18990@z28g2000prd.googlegro ups.com...
> Just curious what people's thoughts were as to the best way to wipe a
> drive for security reasons. I am more of the disposition of wiping
> with a low level format (rewritting the drive with all zeros). Would
> software such as KillDisk or Boot n' Nuke be a better option?


www.killdisk.com

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

"Maximus the Mad" <maxwachtel@nomail.afraid.org> wrote in
news:xn0f8jhv12zafj002@news.albasani.net:

<SNIP>


max
--
My Pages:
Virus Removal Instructions:
http://www.freespaces.com/maxwachtel/removal.html
Keeping Windows Clean:
http://www.freespaces.com/maxwachtel/keepingclean.html
Tools: http://www.freespaces.com/maxwachtel/tools.html
Change nomail.afraid.org to gmail.com to reply.
nomail.afraid.org is
specifically setup for USENET.Feel free to use it yourself.
Always remember - only download files from Trusted Sites.
"VISTA" is an acronym for the top five Windows problems:
Viruses,
Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware. -PanHandler
Registered Linux User #393236


I have been calling Vista "Vast Infinite Spyware Trojan
Assortment" for some time now. Wonder how many others there are?


--
Any mental activity is easy if it need not be subjected to
reality.

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:44:13 -0700, cizzo <phliex@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Just curious what people's thoughts were as to the best way to wipe a
>drive for security reasons. I am more of the disposition of wiping
>with a low level format (rewritting the drive with all zeros). Would
>software such as KillDisk or Boot n' Nuke be a better option?

Depends on what is on the disk. If it is just personal stuff and you
aren't a big time criminal then killdisk is as good as any. If you
*are* a big time criminal or in the banking business etc. (is there
any real difference?) then taking the cover off the drive and beating
the platter with a big hammer is probably the best bet.

I know of one finance company that has all it's old desktop PCs
crushed under the eye of their security chief. Can't be too careful

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

Alfred wrote:

> I know of one finance company that has all it's old desktop PCs
> crushed under the eye of their security chief. Can't be too careful

Crushed? That's not good. They're shredded in most security situations.
Never can tell when the NSA will break out a scanning electron
microscope and try to read each magnetic spot on a broken platter.

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:03:02 -0400, Rôgêr <abuse@your.isp.com> wrote:

>Alfred wrote:
>
>> I know of one finance company that has all it's old desktop PCs
>> crushed under the eye of their security chief. Can't be too careful
>
>Crushed? That's not good. They're shredded in most security situations.
>Never can tell when the NSA will break out a scanning electron
>microscope and try to read each magnetic spot on a broken platter.

This was a few years ago. They took them to a quarry and ran them
through a stone crusher. That's the box with everything in. I doubt
whether there would be anything big enought to be identified.

Wonder what they will do now with the new WEEE regulations.

Re: Low level format or wipe?
 

Alfred wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:03:02 -0400, Rôgêr <abuse@your.isp.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Alfred wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I know of one finance company that has all it's old desktop PCs
>>>crushed under the eye of their security chief. Can't be too careful
>>
>>Crushed? That's not good. They're shredded in most security situations.
>>Never can tell when the NSA will break out a scanning electron
>>microscope and try to read each magnetic spot on a broken platter.
>
>
> This was a few years ago. They took them to a quarry and ran them
> through a stone crusher. That's the box with everything in. I doubt
> whether there would be anything big enought to be identified.
>
> Wonder what they will do now with the new WEEE regulations.

Don't know about the UK, but given the Department of Homeland Security's
track record so far, you could probably hand them printouts of
everything on the drive and they wouldn't be able to parse it. But if
you got a blowjob from an intern, they'd spend millions, billions on
getting to the bottom of it.