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socratesmind
old hand

Registered: 02/22/02
Posts: 1,193
Loc: in your house :)
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
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Deleted files are really safe???
#2994016 - 08/11/04 11:51 PM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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Well hello guys n girls, this little message is just to inform you windows users that whenever you delete a file it really doesn't get entirely erased. What usually happens is that windows gives the first byte of this file a special identifier to let it know its a deleted file and ok to overwrite sometime. But the only thing is that who knows when it might be overwritten so that potentially sensitive data may be on your machine for months. So another good way to securely erase all this data is by wiping. Wiping just writes over all the data of the 'deleted file' with random 0's and 1's. Some other methods include just all 0's or all 1's. But anywho here is an open source alternative with a builtin scheduler that can wipe your free space data once a week or so. Here's da link.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/
Current version is 5.7
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Opera
newbie

Registered: 08/07/04
Posts: 26
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: socratesmind]
#2994350 - 08/12/04 01:33 AM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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Download BC wipe at www.jetico.com.
BCWipe is a powerful set of utilities which allows to use US DoD 5200.28-STD standard and Peter Gutmann wiping scheme (read about Peter Gutmann wiping scheme in the “Secure Deletion of Data from Magnetic and Solid State Memory” article http://www.usenix.org/publications/library/proceedings/sec96/full_papers/gutmann/ ), as well as create and use you own customized wiping scheme to shred sensitive information from storage devices installed on your computer.
Using BCWipe is quite simple. After installation of the BCWipe utility you will find Wipe Free Space and Delete With Wiping commands in the context menus of the Windows Explorer program. For example, if you wish to delete and wipe group of files, you should select them in ‘My computer’ window, press right mouse button and run the Delete With Wiping command from the appeared context menu.
You should also take into account a problem of so-called Windows Swap File and Hibernation File. Swap File is the system file that supports virtual memory, and when you open some document, the Swap file may be used by the operating system to store a part of the document on a hard disk. The BCWipe system includes an option to wipe Swap File, as well as a tool to encrypt contents of Swap File transparently for the operating system.
Hibernation File supports transition of computer to the hibernation state. At that time system copies all the data stored in RAM memory, including opened sensitive documents, to the Hibernation File. To avoid the security leak you may configure BCWipe to wipe the Hibernation File regulary.
The BCWipe utility is also distributed as a part of the BestCrypt Data Encryption System. BestCrypt supports wide range of operating systems (Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP and Linux) and allows user to keep any form of data (files, letters, pictures, databases) in encrypted form on the hard disk, network disks, removable media, CD-ROM and floppies. BestCrypt provides on-the-fly encryption of data, so that encrypt/decrypt operations are transparent for user.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero


Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: Opera]
#2994592 - 08/12/04 05:07 AM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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> So another good way to securely erase all this data is by wiping. Wiping just writes over all the data of the 'deleted file' with random 0's and 1's.
Random 0's and 1's overwritten to the same area of the disk as the original file will not prevent a determined government from getting to the deleted data. There are certain sequences of 0's and 1's which are good for clearing out data, but they are most definitely not random. The sequences also require multiple writes to be effective. Even then, it is not 100% perfect and the data can still be raised from the disk. The only truely secure way to erase a hard drive is to destroy the platters, turning them into scrap metal.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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Cyber
Ash


Registered: 06/14/04
Posts: 1,476
Loc: Dearborn Michigan
Last seen: 1 year, 12 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: Seuss]
#2994899 - 08/12/04 08:57 AM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Seuss said: The only truely secure way to erase a hard drive is to destroy the platters, turning them into scrap metal.
So to accomplish this in a timely manure you would need to set up the following. 
Take 4 grams of thermite http://www.thecatalyst.org/other/thermite/
Place in a plastic baggie with an Estes model rocket igniter. http://www.rocketfun.com/listings/main_engign.html
Attach wires to a dpst switch (Radio Shack) attached to the front of the case. Along with 12v dc source of power (That would be the red wire on any of the computer power supply plugs) Tape baggie to the top of the hard drive.
Place fire extinguisher in same room (this is just in case)
In an "emergency" you flip the switch and poof no more hard drive.
(From experience) When the switch is thrown it quickly burns through the hard drive, the floppy under the hard drive, the bottom of the case, into the wooden desk and starts a small fire. 
Foot note. Buy the switch with a protective cover. Just so you do not accidentally hit it with your beer.
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Vvellum
Stranger

Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 10,920
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: socratesmind]
#2995325 - 08/12/04 11:17 AM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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cool thanks - always good to have something like this.
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Randolph_Carter
НơĻ?ĢΉōsŧ

Registered: 06/13/00
Posts: 29,281
Loc: Shroomery B-list.
Last seen: 14 years, 2 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: socratesmind]
#2995677 - 08/12/04 01:06 PM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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Pgp will take care of this too....as well as overwriting (up to 27 times) all the free space on your drive.
I love pgp.
-------------------- "..all those molecules thrashing their kinky little tails, hot for destiny and the street." Gibson Nuke baby seals for Jesus! (This has been a +1 production.)
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Fucknuckle
Dog Lover

Registered: 04/24/04
Posts: 6,762
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Dude what is pgp and where can I get it?
-------------------- What it is, is what it is my Brother. It is as it is, so suffer thru it.
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Randolph_Carter
НơĻ?ĢΉōsŧ

Registered: 06/13/00
Posts: 29,281
Loc: Shroomery B-list.
Last seen: 14 years, 2 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: Fucknuckle]
#3000939 - 08/13/04 01:31 PM (19 years, 9 months ago) |
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google it.
pgp, download Very good (essential, even) peice of software.
-------------------- "..all those molecules thrashing their kinky little tails, hot for destiny and the street." Gibson Nuke baby seals for Jesus! (This has been a +1 production.)
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nonoman
ambassador


Registered: 06/25/04
Posts: 1,326
Loc: the wood
Last seen: 6 years, 19 days
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Anyone ever heard of Evidence Eliminator? Supposedly even defeats the efforts of police forensic software.
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daussaulit
Forgetful

Registered: 08/06/02
Posts: 2,894
Loc: Earth
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: nonoman]
#3054048 - 08/26/04 03:19 PM (19 years, 8 months ago) |
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero


Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: nonoman]
#3054052 - 08/26/04 03:20 PM (19 years, 8 months ago) |
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> Supposedly even defeats the efforts of police forensic software.
Repeating myself: The only truely secure way to erase a hard drive is to destroy the platters, turning them into scrap metal.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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Worf
Lt. Commander

Registered: 07/04/04
Posts: 15,663
Loc: Final Frontier
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: socratesmind]
#3055982 - 08/26/04 10:37 PM (19 years, 8 months ago) |
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You could get rid of all of your data by formatting it then filling it to the brim with pr0n. All the 1's and 0's are taken care of that way.
Abit has something called secureIDE which encrypts your hard drive and you use a key to unlock it when you boot up. http://www.abit-usa.com/products/multimedia/secureide/ Just be damn sure you don't lose your key.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero


Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: Worf]
#3057140 - 08/27/04 07:49 AM (19 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
You could get rid of all of your data by formatting it then filling it to the brim with pr0n. All the 1's and 0's are taken care of that way.
No they are not. If you write on a paper, erase it, and then write over it, you can still make out what was written first. Although a hard drive is obviously different, the same concept holds true. Rewriting the data on the hard drive might stop the local city police forensics team, but it will do nothing if the fed's get it in their mind to recreate the data.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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crusher101
member

Registered: 08/05/04
Posts: 158
Last seen: 18 years, 27 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: Seuss]
#3057189 - 08/27/04 08:12 AM (19 years, 8 months ago) |
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but if u have the feds on your ass then your already fucked arent u
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero


Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Re: Deleted files are really safe??? [Re: crusher101]
#3057200 - 08/27/04 08:18 AM (19 years, 8 months ago) |
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> but if u have the feds on your ass then your already fucked arent u
Not at all; they have the burden of proof.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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