Destroying PC data before the feds get it

[MentalMike]

Posted by Enrage at AnaSci.net

Why do you want to destroy your data in the first place?


-To protect your privacy.
-To prevent others from seeing sensitive data.
-To cover your tracks in case you're performing confidential activities on your computer.

When it comes to wiping out data, forget about the Recycle Bin, stupid shareware utilities, or fun little free files. I'll show you hard-core software and hardware that absolutely, positively, leaves no trace of the data (or makes the data practically impossible to use).

Software solutions
Software-based data destruction is perfect for most people to use on hard drives or floppy disks. If you have financial records, business secrets, or other sensitive material, use one of the methods below

Eraser
This open source application, perfect for deleting individual files, surpasses Department of Defense data deletion specifications

Pretty Good Privacy
PGP is great for encrypting email, but it also has a file deletion utility. With PGP installed, all you have to do is right-click on any file and choose Wipe. This deletes and overwrites the target file.

Autoclave
Looking to sell your computer on eBay? Make sure you delete the data before you do. You can use Autoclave to create a bootable floppy disk that overwrites all hard-drive data. Autoclave can overwrite the hard drive with specific data patterns that exercise all the bits on the drive, making it extremely difficult to recover anything at all.

Software-based data destruction is never as good as hardware destruction. Any three-letter government agency (FBI, CIA, NSA) can recover data from software destruction using high-power microscopes

Hardware solutions
If you can afford to destroy the media that stores the data, you increase your probability of maintaining your privacy.

Fellows PS70-2CD shredder
Have you ever used a marking pen to write over the data portion of a CD you want to dispose? Or better yet, closed your eyes and flexed the CD until it shatters? You don't have to do that anymore if you buy Fellows' new paper and CD shredder. I haven't been this happy about a product since Big Nate's BBQ brought back the half-slab of ribs for $4.99 on Tuesdays

Hard drive/floppy degausser
A degausser is a charged coil that removes all magnetic fields from a target device. To use the degausser, you set the hard drive or floppy disk upon the device and switch it on. Degaussers are expensive and can vary in price based on effective degaussing power. Degaussers should be used with a software tool such as autoclave.

[Budlite74]

very good post

[MentalMike]

of course!