Securely wipe a harddisk

drpixel404 · 07-14-2007, 10:44 AM

Hello all. I am re-partitioning my harddisk so I can dual-boot Debian 4 and Ubuntu. Currently, there are two partitions (Windows XP on one and Fedora Core 6 on another). I have some sensitive data on my M$ Windows (ntfs) partition that I would like to securely wipe. Are there any re-partitioning tools that support secure wipes (such as 7x or 35x)? Thanks in advance!

drpixel

{BBI}Nexus{BBI} · 07-14-2007, 10:56 AM

Here's some:

http://www.killdisk.com/
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/
http://www.thefreecountry.com/securi...redelete.shtml
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/copywipe.php
http://www.filedudes.com/files/Clean...Disk_Wipe.html

unSpawn · 07-14-2007, 11:09 AM

I prefer loading Darik's Boot and Nuke (abbrev.: DBAN) from a floppy or CDR. No need to install stuff for that task.

drpixel404 · 07-14-2007, 11:44 AM

Thanks for all of the quick replies!! I think I'll go with DBAN, it seems to get the job done right

What wipe method would you recommend for sensitive data?

pixellany · 07-14-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpixel404

Thanks for all of the quick replies!! I think I'll go with DBAN, it seems to get the job done right

What wipe method would you recommend for sensitive data?

Depends on how sensitive it is.......DBAN has a full range of methods, including those used for classified data. The only downside is that the most secure ones take longer.

If you use any of the intermediate methods AND make new partitions and filesystems, you should be covered. (It also depends on who you think your enemies are---ie who has access to the computer AND knows what is there?)

unSpawn · 07-14-2007, 12:54 PM

In most cases a few passes (say three) will be "good enough". Else classify for yourself how sensitive the data is, if there's a policy involved, the plausability or threat of (and damage by) recovery and the time you can invest and then choose a method based on that. Whatever method you choose: do inspect the wiped disk.

drpixel404 · 07-14-2007, 08:14 PM

Okay... It aounds like an intermediate wipe will do for my purposes. How do I "inspect the disk"? Also when installing the ISO onto a cd-r, I don't have to use Windows correct?

{BBI}Nexus{BBI} · 07-14-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpixel404

Okay... It aounds like an intermediate wipe will do for my purposes. How do I "inspect the disk"? Also when installing the ISO onto a cd-r, I don't have to use Windows correct?

No you don't, you can happily burn your .iso in Linux or any other op/sys that burns cd's. Don't forget to create a cd from an image do not burn the .iso as data.

drpixel404 · 07-14-2007, 10:29 PM

Okay, I will make sure to burn from the image. I will try this stuff out (hopefully) tommorow. I'll post any problems here. Thanks so much!

unSpawn · 07-15-2007, 02:14 AM

Inspection can be done "the easy way" by looking at the disk sectors with a hex editor. If the disk contents weren't zeroed out (meaning you don't have clear visual indication it's empty) then a more elaborate (and timeconsuming) way would be to use a forensics data carving tool like for instance pyFLAG to see if there's anything retrievable that can be construed as being part of a file. After wipe * 7 this will prove to be a theoretical exercise since there's nothing left to retrieve :-]

syg00 · 07-15-2007, 02:27 AM

Last I looked at DBAN it would wipe *ALL* the disks it could find.
Seriously unfriendly.

Haven't checked in a while.

If you're trying to hide stuff from the NSA (or similar) why bother - they probably already have a copy ...

Else anything sensible should suffice.

unSpawn · 07-15-2007, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Last I looked at DBAN it would wipe *ALL* the disks it could find.
Seriously unfriendly.

It does have a menu where you can deselect stuff.

Quote:

Else anything sensible should suffice.

So, define:sensible ???

syg00 · 07-15-2007, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unSpawn

So, define:sensible ???

I generally run over the area 3 - 5 times.
No particular reason, usually depends on how I feel at the time.

drpixel404 · 07-15-2007, 08:21 AM

Okay, I'm burning the CD-RW right now. I think I'll use a 5 or 7 pass wipe. How long do you guys think it might take for a 111gb hard drive with a 5 or 7 pass wipe?

{BBI}Nexus{BBI} · 07-15-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpixel404

Okay, I'm burning the CD-RW right now. I think I'll use a 5 or 7 pass wipe. How long do you guys think it might take for a 111gb hard drive with a 5 or 7 pass wipe?

LOL, seriously if you have some gardening or diy that you've been meaning to do, now is the perfect time to get busy!