Re: Removing data in a secure manner?

[Richard Welty <rwelty_(_at_)_averillpark_(_dot_)_net>]

On Mon, 3 Feb 2003 06:26:53 -0700 (MST) Diana Eichert <deichert_(_at_)_wrench_(_dot_)_com> wrote:

> On Mon, 3 Feb 2003, Tobias Weingartner wrote:

> > And what Theo says is 100% correct.  With dynamic remapping and all
> > that sort of stuff happening today, the only real way to get 100%
> > removal is to... melt the sucker down to slag.

> You can always use one of those NSA approved degausers, then run it
> through the metal shedder.  That's what happens to some hard drives where
> I've been known to work.

when i was tangentially involved in government work through GE Aerospace,
the main GE site in Pennsylvania had a crusher near by for discarded disk
packs (at the time, only removable media were permitted in classified
spaces.) it was the standard way to meet Federal rules for disposal of
classified data.

seriously, if someone wants your data badly enough, then 20 or 30 writes
over the disk may not do the job. if it's important, then physically
destroy the disk.

richard
--
Richard Welty                                         rwelty_(_at_)_averillpark_(_dot_)_net
Averill Park Networking                                         518-573-7592
              Unix, Linux, IP Network Engineering, Security