RE: RE: Disk Wiping Utilities

From: Mark Medici (mark@dbma.com)
Date: 03/29/02 

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 12:07:25 -0500
From: "Mark Medici" <mark@dbma.com>
To: <dude@coruscant.net>, <SECURITY-BASICS@securityfocus.com>

Rumor has it that certain three-letter organizations can recover data
from disks even after that data has been overwritten as many as five
times with five different patterns of data. Allegedly, this is
accomplished through the use of special controllers, equipment and
software that can:

 * Position the read/write head slightly out of alignment
 * Read the analog signal directly from the heads
 * Filter out previously read signals from an in-alignment read
 * Amplify and convert the remaining out-of-band signal to data
 * Repeat the process with the heads moved slightly further
   out of alignment.

Of course, since I've never been associated with any organization that
has this capability, I can't say for certain this is possible. Then
again, if I did know for certain, it would probably be illegal for me to
say anything.

I don't know how many disks Dan needs to erase. But a new 20GB hard
disk costs less than $100. Two 198g 30-06 rifle cartridges cost about
$2.00. Take the old disk out to the rifle range and punch two holes
through it. Install the new disk and be done. Heck, you could probably
charge office staff for the opportunity shoot-up the disks, and recover
$10 to $25 bucks per disk!

+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| mark@dbma.com Mark Medici www.dbma.com |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Warning: I sell IT & Security products, including myself. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+

> -----Original Message-----
> From: dude@coruscant.net [mailto:dude@coruscant.net]
> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 12:01 AM
> To: SECURITY-BASICS@securityfocus.com
> Subject: Re: RE: Disk Wiping Utilities
>
>
> without a doubt. I have seen people retreive deleted files from a HD
> that was formatted using DOS utilities.
>
>
> >
> > Advanced recovery will still be able to get some data back
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bassam ALHUSSEIN [mailto:bhussein@scs-net.org]
> > Sent: woensdag 27 maart 2002 21:38
> > To: SECURITY-BASICS@securityfocus.com; Dan Williamson
> > Subject: Re: Disk Wiping Utilities
> >
> >
> > I am not sure but I thought that a format then fdisk would do the
> job
> > .....wouldn't it ??? correct me guys ..plz
> >
> > Bisso
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Dan Williamson <dan.williamson@courts.state.pa.us>
> > To: <security-basics@securityfocus.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 12:14 AM
> > Subject: Disk Wiping Utilities
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > I am looking for a good utility to erase all hard drives
> > > in a machine to a DOD standard. I would prefer a
> > > FREE utility as this is a government agency and I try
> > > to keep costs down.
> > >
> > > I have read that Norton Wipeinfo, BCWipe and
> > > several other programs wipe only the known
> > > partitions. I need a tool that will wipe EVERYTHING !
> > >
> > > TIA
> > > Dan
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > <br>
>
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>

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