Andrew Farnsworth wrote: > On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 8:13 AM, Drew <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > Hello, > Like the subject says, this pertains to data security, but not just > on linux/bsd/*nix. What I'd like to know is if anyone has a tool > they prefer for wiping hard drives in workstations. As we > grow/upgrade systems, we frequently have old systems we'd like to > get rid of, but data security is a concern. I would like to leave > systems "usable" (ie not destroy or remove the hard drive) but > clean. Ideally, we're talking about a bootable CD that has a utility > that will format/overwrite/reformat/overwrite drives to a point > where there is a reasonable expectation that data that was on the > drive won't be able to be retrieved. So - favorites, > recommendations? Input on this being a pointless task because data > can always be recovered? Thanks for the input. > > > Pretty much any bootable linux distro will do it as you can use DD or a > lot of other tools to overwrite the data on the drive. If you actually > want to a bootable that is designed for it, try http://www.dban.org/ > (Darik's boot and nuke). > > I was going to reply with a link to this video: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIRXh2oiqtA > > but you said you didn't want to destroy the drives. > > As to the security of the wipe. All the data recovery companies have > stated that overwriting the drive once with zeros pretty much makes it > unrecoverable, though better safe than sorry, so do the secure seven > alteranating wipe. > > Andy
Allow me to add to Andy's good post. The OP may have good intentions by retaining an intact system. Please understand that used systems are a challenge that us "Dumpster Divers" know all too well. The only absolute data security with a hard disk is that disk's destruction. Given that one may now buy 1-2 TB disks for less than $200.00, we are reaching the dynamic that any drive less than 100GB is NOT worth the electricity to RUN. No computer with a processor less than 1gHz is worth the electricity to run as a general purpose, desktop computer. And yes, I know full well that the systems the OP is retiring are perfectly functional and would serve most people's needs for home systems to surf the web and send email. The Robertson County Senior Center could probably use 10 or so and sell / give away another 30. I met a lady March 17 that said she had a garage full of used computers and wondered if I (by installing Asterisk) could make her trash into treasure. Sorry Ma'am. Howard White --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NLUG" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nlug-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
