On 28 January 2012 20:31, Andy Smith <a...@bitfolk.com> wrote: > Hi Paul, > > On Sat, Jan 28, 2012 at 08:16:19PM +0000, paul sutton wrote: >> On 28/01/12 18:40, scoundrel50a wrote: >> > What is so wrong about wanting to be able to securely wipe an >> > hdd.........and why do people feel the need to be so condescending >> > when somebody asks about it.......trying to make the person asking >> > look guilty......funny thing, you seem to know how to do it, even with >> > the attitude...... >> > >> Agreed as in some cases you HAVE to ensure date can't be recovered. Or >> you may simply want to start over and re-install the system, so a fully >> blank hdd, can rule out any problems that may occur later on. > > In what way is a disk that has had 0 written over it entirely not a > "fully blank hdd"?
Well, in theory, if you paid Kroll Ontrack £LOTS then they claim to be able to get much or all of the data off a zero-overwritten drive by meticulously examining the very edge of the tracks for a sort of magnetic overspill. Costs tens of thousands or more, though. This is why programs like DBAN to the multiple-overwrite thing; to scramble even these marginal areas. But in everyday practice, you're right, a zeroed-out drive is fully blank to all intents and purposes. Much "blanker" than one that's just been quick-formatted, or that has merely had its partitions removed. -- Liam Proven • Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk • GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lpro...@hotmail.com • Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 • Cell: +44 7939-087884 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
