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Removal of Sensitive Information on Hard Drives
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#1 Posted : 18 September 2003 09:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tom Gorman
The Organisation I work for removes the hard drives from old computers before they are taken for disposal.Thereafter, to ensure that sensitive information cannot be accessed from the hard drive the staff hit the drive with a hammer. Having witnessed this in operation with small pieces of metal and plastic flying everywhere, I have requested that this practice be halted. I realise that there are a number of software packages and equipment available on the market to erase information on the drives, and was wondering if any Forum Member has details of such systems, which work and are cost effective.

Many thanks
Tom
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#2 Posted : 18 September 2003 10:12:00(UTC)
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Posted By Geoff Burt
ComputerActive ran an article about this a few weeks ago. Happy to scan and email if you want it.

Geoff
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#3 Posted : 18 September 2003 10:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tom Gorman
Geoff,

Thanks very much for the offer. I am meeting some IT personnel tomorrow and the information in the article would be helpful.

Regards,
Tom
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#4 Posted : 18 September 2003 11:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kevin Thompson
Surely, it wouldn't be too difficult to arrange for the safe destruction of the discs. Why not find someone who has an incinerator you can throw them in. Or why not watch them go through a crusher. Or how about putting them in a sack before hitting them with the hammer.
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#5 Posted : 18 September 2003 12:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Neil Pearson
I'm sure one of the packages in Geoff's article will be Norton Systemworks. You don't actually need to install the software, simply run it from the CD and it will wipe the media so that no-one can recover data from it.
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#6 Posted : 18 September 2003 14:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Lance Morgan
Is it not possible to just format the hard drive before disposal and that will completely wipe it.
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#7 Posted : 18 September 2003 14:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jason Gould
Always thought strong magnet would do the job after formatting.

This surely should be simple to solve in other methods apart from smashing with hammer.
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#8 Posted : 19 September 2003 10:16:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Murphy
Why not format and flog the HDD and recoup a bit of cash for the NHS?
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#9 Posted : 19 September 2003 13:43:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Bellis
There are lots of freeware and shareware packages which do the job effectively for the levels you are looking for. Try this website discussion which points you to several effective products- http://www-tcsn.experts-.../Storage/Q_20709999.html ,

However for a comprehensive 100% guaranteed totally unrecoverable data removal of very sensitive information, that someone determined with the right hardware/software wanted to get into the data ( such as the Police ) you would have to destroy the disk I would have thought, heat would seem the safest option - applied by a controlled method of course!
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#10 Posted : 21 September 2003 16:29:00(UTC)
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Posted By Neil Pearson
Reformatting a drive does not actually erase all the data on it. I once reformatted my hard disk and realised there was something I hadn't backed up in advance. I did manage to get it back!

To clear the disk of sensitive data, you have to write other data over the entire surface of the disk, preferably more than once. Various programs can do this for you automatically. Or of course physically destroy the media.
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#11 Posted : 22 September 2003 12:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
Just spoke to our IT people and the only way is to reformat but to be really sure they have to be destroyed. You could remove the casing and then destroy the drive.
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#12 Posted : 25 September 2003 17:11:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tom Gorman
Dear All,

Thanks very much for your replies and suggestions, which I have incorporated into my discussions with our IT Department. Thankfully, we are looking at a number of procedures, which do not involve hitting the drive with a hammer.
Sorry for the delay in replying, but I have been out of the office for the previous 3 days (Busy, busy, busy!!). However, your comments are greatly appreciated.

Tom.
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#13 Posted : 25 September 2003 17:48:00(UTC)
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Posted By Michael Miller
Last but not least

The easiest way to remove data permanently from a PC is to flatten it electronicaly. This is what you do to remove a virus. It is a simple action (just hit the right keys) and bingo, your computer when switched on is like brand new with nothing on it! Any IT person should know this and it is much safer.

Good Luck

Mike
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