Re: how to sweep hard disk of confidential data
On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 13:02:17 -0400
"H. S." <greatexcalibur@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>I am in a situation where a computer is to be given away and prior to
>that it's hard disk needs to *thoroughly* cleaned (data consists of
>financial information, reports, class exams, competition exams, etc).
>
>One method I have found on google is:
>$>dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
>to clean the first disk. Now this only writes data once. I am not sure
>about this method's thoroughness since I have read that multiple writes
>are necessary to really overwrite the original data.
>
>The second method that I have read is to delete everything from the disk
>and then write a large file (how to get his? random data?) repeatedly
>and fill the disk. Then remove these files with 'wipe'.
>
>Any suggestions? Or any alternate methods? Then there is also the option
>of using a Windows programs to do this. But I am familiar with those.
>
>thanks
>->HS
>
>
I've had good luck with Disk Sanitizer. Several levels of wipe depending on
how much time you have and how paranoid you are.
http://www.icewalkers.com/Linux/Software/517500/East-Tec-DiskSanitizer-for-Linux.html
--
Cheers,
Trey
The correct way to punctuate a sentence that starts: "Of course it is
none of my business, but --" is to place a period after the word "but."
Don't use excessive force in supplying such a moron with a period.
Cutting his throat is only a momentary pleasure and is bound to get you
talked about.
-- Lazarus Long, "Time Enough for Love"
Linux linux 2.6.5-23cvs20040715182843-default #1 Thu Jul 15 18:28:43 UTC 2004
i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
8:02pm up 1 day 1:12, 3 users, load average: 0.56, 0.63, 0.33
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