Home News Forum Articles
  Welcome back Join CF
You are here You are here: Home | Forum | Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most of the discussions, articles and other free features. By joining our Virgin Media community you will have full access to all discussions, be able to view and post threads, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload your own images/photos, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please join our community today.


Welcome to Cable Forum
Go Back   Cable Forum > Computers & IT > General IT Discussion

Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase
Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 01-05-2012, 19:00   #16
Waldo Pepper
Inactive
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: In the thick of East Anglia
Posts: 573
Waldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation era
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

I wouldn't waste my time with erasing software since they are not being used again. A lump hammer across the platters will render them useless.

Reason is the head sits a nat's wisker above the platter when operating and cannot follow any kind of surface irregularites. Moreso the ones a lump hammer can inflict.
Waldo Pepper is offline   Reply With Quote
Advertisement
Old 01-05-2012, 21:57   #17
LSainsbury
Guest
 
Location: Near Hungerford, West Berkshire
Services: TV: Sky HD, Landline: BT, Mobile: Orange, Internet: Quite Slow!
Posts: n/a
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Take apart the drives; remove the platters; drill 12 holes around the circumference and then mount a clock mechanism in the middle. Hang on your wall for a nice art-deco timepiece.
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 22:11   #18
Hom3r
Mum 15/08/46 - 30/09/20
 
Hom3r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, www.daves-world.co.uk. A secret Moonbase (shh don't tell anybody)
Age: 55
Services: 1 V6, 2x1TB TiVo, SH3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, Ton's of Smart Home stuff, & Cuddy Toy
Posts: 16,864
Hom3r has a pair of shiny starsHom3r has a pair of shiny starsHom3r has a pair of shiny starsHom3r has a pair of shiny stars
Hom3r has a pair of shiny stars
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

One option smash them open then take a angle grinder to the platters.
__________________
STAY AT HOME: I found out that mum will never walk again as the coronavirus attacked her nervous system. She died on September 30th, wearing a mask and she still might be alive today.
Hom3r is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 22:15   #19
Matthew
cf.mega poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 35
Posts: 2,028
Matthew has reached the bronze age
Matthew has reached the bronze ageMatthew has reached the bronze ageMatthew has reached the bronze ageMatthew has reached the bronze ageMatthew has reached the bronze ageMatthew has reached the bronze age
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

We use Shred-IT and get them to dispose of all our disks now.
__________________
Matt
Matthew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 22:17   #20
Ken W
cf.mega poster
 
Ken W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Winnersh UK
Services: LL Phone, TiVo, M+ VM mobile, BBand 150M tier Superhub, TIVO 500 M+
Posts: 2,112
Ken W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful oneKen W is the helpful one
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Quote:
Originally Posted by Waldo Pepper View Post
I wouldn't waste my time with erasing software since they are not being used again. A lump hammer across the platters will render them useless.

Reason is the head sits a nat's wisker above the platter when operating and cannot follow any kind of surface irregularites. Moreso the ones a lump hammer can inflict.
I used a large sledge hammer which completely physically destroyed the hard drive and the platters which were physically disroyed.
Ken W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 22:44   #21
Halcyon
Hello !
 
Halcyon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Somewhere
Services: Sky, AppleTV, Netflix
Posts: 16,625
Halcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered stars
Halcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered starsHalcyon is seeing silvered stars
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

CCleaner has an option to set the delete pass at 35 times, more than enough.

Then snap off a few pins on the drives too.
__________________
.
-

Halcyon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 22:52   #22
Kymmy
Inactive
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,398
Kymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny stars
Kymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny starsKymmy has a pair of shiny stars
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hom3r View Post
One option smash them open then take a angle grinder to the platters.
Or just buy a larger angle grinder and go through the whole drive
Kymmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 23:09   #23
Osem
Inactive
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Right here!
Posts: 22,316
Osem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered stars
Osem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered starsOsem is seeing silvered stars
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Or just toss them into an active volcano.

It might be easier to take them to PC World for a clean-up and they'll probably disappear forever...
Osem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 23:25   #24
jempalmer
Guest
 
Location: West Sussex
Services: 500gb Tivo & V+. TV XL, 60MB BB, M Phone.
Posts: n/a
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Honestly Rob, if I were you, I would forget that you ever asked. Clearly they love and respect you but at the same time are taking the.... Hey, I laughed
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 23:27   #25
qasdfdsaq
cf.mega poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,207
qasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronze
qasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronzeqasdfdsaq is cast in bronze
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

If speed is the only concern, nothing beats the speed and thoroughness of thermite.
qasdfdsaq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2012, 23:44   #26
MovedGoalPosts
Inactive
 
MovedGoalPosts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: 127.0.0.1
Age: 59
Posts: 15,868
MovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny stars
MovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny starsMovedGoalPosts has a pair of shiny stars
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

I think what I've learnt from this thread is that the destructive approach is preferred simply because it's more fun
MovedGoalPosts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2012, 00:33   #27
jempalmer
Guest
 
Location: West Sussex
Services: 500gb Tivo & V+. TV XL, 60MB BB, M Phone.
Posts: n/a
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Woohoo! Break them, you know you'll enjoy it. However, telling the boss that you blew up the kitchen as a result of microwaving hdd platters and the all important cup of water(ignore the sparks) may not be the absolute answer. If I'm wrong heyho, it's not unusual
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2012, 00:53   #28
Matth
Inactive
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Services: BB:M, TV:XL, Phone:M, Loyalty
Posts: 2,516
Matth has reached the bronze age
Matth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze age
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Gutman was designed for another era, when drives were not stretching the media capacity to the limit. One overwrite pass will defeat anything except what the security services may have.
Matth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2012, 10:48   #29
Waldo Pepper
Inactive
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: In the thick of East Anglia
Posts: 573
Waldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation eraWaldo Pepper has entered a golden reputation era
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matth View Post
One overwrite pass will defeat anything except what the security services may have.
Another good reason to smash the drive to pieces.....
Waldo Pepper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2012, 20:09   #30
TheDon
Inactive
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,570
TheDon has reached the bronze age
TheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze ageTheDon has reached the bronze age
Re: Secure Hard Disk Disk Erase

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matth View Post
Gutman was designed for another era, when drives were not stretching the media capacity to the limit. One overwrite pass will defeat anything except what the security services may have.
"Gutmann", in all 35 passes was never needed. It's a collection of wipe patterns all targeted to different drive encoding methods. If you know the method used, you only need to run the pattern for that drive.

The paper Gutmann wrote as well theorising recovery from overwrite data was also based entirely on theory and had no basis on what is, or was ever actually possible.

There hasn't been any recorded evidence of any data been recovered from an overwrote drive, and the whole "the heads don't track perfectly" thing where it MAY be possible to recover what the previous write was would require manual per bit recovery, and just isn't really at all feasible.

Even the security services can't recover from one a one pass wipe.

Still, I've worked for many companies that have to dispose of drives, and the favoured method of most of them is shredding.
It's fast and worry free, you see the drives go in, you see the ground up drives come out. It's a lot faster than having to bother with wipes.
TheDon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:31.


Server: osmium.zmnt.uk
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.