[Year 12 IT Apps] HardDrive Repairs expert required

Wed Jun 11 10:50:42 EST 2008

Boot the machine with a Knoppic or Ubuntu LiveCd and run "shred" from a
command line.  

To shred a file "topsecret.txt" with twenty-six iterations (I want to make
sure it's really, really gone!), and delete it afterwards, and hide the fact
that it was shredded, I would run: 

shred -u -z -n 26 topsecret.txt

shred overwrites a file with ones and zeroes

n: number of iterations

z: after shredding overwrite with zeros

u: remove file after shredding

Source:  <http://www.techthrob.com/tech/securedelete.php>
http://www.techthrob.com/tech/securedelete.php

Then there's always cat file > /dev/null (or is it the other way round?)!

Laurie

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Schlanger, Harry P
Sent: Wednesday, 11 June 2008 8:34 AM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] HardDrive Repairs expert required

Thanks Ros, much appreciated

Harry Schlanger

Tyrrell College, Sea Lake

Ph: (03) 5070 2106
Fax: (03) 5070 1069

  _____  

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Meadows, Roslyn M
Sent: Sun 6/8/2008 3:59 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] HardDrive Repairs expert required

For permanently deleting data try these apps

File Shredder 2
(http://www.download.com/File-Shredder/3000-2144_4-10662831.html?tag=lst-1
<http://www.download.com/File-Shredder/3000-2144_4-10662831.html?tag=lst-1&c
dlPid=10662832> &cdlPid=10662832 )

Also Zilla Data Nuker 2
(http://www.download.com/Zilla-Data-Nuker/3000-2092_4-10320323.html?tag=lst-
1
<http://www.download.com/Zilla-Data-Nuker/3000-2092_4-10320323.html?tag=lst-
1&cdlPid=10320324> &cdlPid=10320324 )

Free from download .com 

Remember to transfer the files to your new computer first!!

Usually when files are deleted they are not actually deleted, the space they
occupy is just marked as available for writing to, which is why data that
has been "deleted" can still be resurrected. Same if the HD is reimaged, not
all data is "lost" and can still be retrieved.

File Shredder and Zilla Nuker work by writing garbage to the disk in place
of the files, with 7 passes of this process. These apps should be used
whenever you return a notebook or decide a computer has had its day and is
ready to be passed on.

For old HDs which are no longer useful, ie the computer is too old or the HD
too small for today's demands - the best way to protect any private,
business or personal data is to physically destroy the disk (ie hammer,
fire, chainsaw...lol) A great way to release some pent up tension around
report time!

Cheers

Ros

cid:image007.jpg at 01C81D4C.6EFFB170

Roslyn Meadows
Head of ICT Implementation

Head of Assessment and Reporting
Bentleigh Secondary College 

| 9579 1044 | 0412 614 062 |

cid:image008.jpg at 01C81D4C.6EFFB170

Please consider the environment before printing this email 

In some cases, all it requires is that you rationally point out that there
is a problem. 

In others, all you can do is turn the other cheek. 

At the far end of the spectrum are those for whom the only appropriate
response is to carve out their still-beating heart and force them to eat it.
(Marc Carlson)

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Schlanger, Harry P
Sent: Sunday, 8 June 2008 3:29 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] HardDrive Repairs expert required

Hi Ken,

Thanks for making us more aware of the problem of data left on computers
when the machines are disposed. With the upcoming laptop rollout, I'd like
to research this topic a bit more so that I may advice teachers (and our
school) on the proper way to dispose of data before surrendering
laptops/desktops.

Would you have more details/any references re the current accepted methods
of disposal?

Harry Schlanger

Tyrrell College, Sea Lake

Ph: (03) 5070 2106
Fax: (03) 5070 1069

  _____  

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of ken price
Sent: Tue 6/3/2008 4:19 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] HardDrive Repairs expert required

Hi folks, 

We had an expert in computer forensics present at an ACS event here, on the
extremes of data recovery from hard drives.

The level of data that CAN be retrieved from a full disk crash is remarkable
(if you have the time and money). 

Of particular interest was what happens to laptop hard drives that fail
under warranty. These go back to manufacturer and some are rebuilt (often
the electronics only fail) and re-issued as exchange warranty drives. Thus
with the right software and hardware it is often possible to retrieve
someone else's data from your warranty replacement hard drive. He had
examples of this (more common when hard drives were expensive of course). 

The US security agencies at one stage adopted a physical solution to prevent
their failed drives ending up in someone else's laptop - a policy of firing
two bullets throught the drive platters.But even this turned out to be
insufficient. There are techniques where the damaged platters are removed
and specialised hardware used to measure remnant magnetism not just on the
surface of the disk but profiled into the magnetic surface. Magnetic force
microscopy and other techniques allow a chance of data recovery even after
massive physical damage.

As with viruses and antivirus software, the data recovery industry and data
deletion industries chase one another. Much of the literature in this area
is actually about how to wipe your data to make it unrecoverable, as that is
a serious security issue given the high rate of turnover of computer
hardware. 

http://www.infoage.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1486101804 has a bit on this that
is probably useful for schools.

This probably doesn't help the original enquiry, but it is worth realising
that it takes quite a serious event to make data totally unrecoverable, but
quite a lot of money and time to actually do that low-level recovery.. Of
course, as Robert advises, it is far cheaper to take preventive action than
to try to recover from a massive failure. And with portable external hard
drives providing a terabyte of storage for the cost of 5 tanks of petrol,
there has never been a better time to back up!

Ken Price

TASITE http://www.tasite.tas.edu.au <http://www.tasite.tas.edu.au/> 

and

DoE Tasmania

On 6/3/08, Robert Hind <robert at yinnar.com> wrote: 

Oh dear!

In most cases there is no way of retrieving the data if there has been a
full "disk crash"

Other more minor problems can sometimes be resolved and date retrieved, at
cost of course!

BUT PLEASE BACKUP all important data. 

Either via your school's net work for work data or via a USB connected
external drive for your personal data.

Robert Hind (Semi-retired)
Ex Traralgon and Ashwood

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