I was informed that /dev/null just wrote zeros to the drive and that a better
way was multiple passes using random:
dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/had
or maybe /dev/random
Not positive, so many *nixes with their own ways of doing things.
But basically /dev/urandom writes ones and zeros in random fashion.
~~~~~
Paris E. Stone, "Linux Zealot"
CISSP, CCNP, CNE, MCSE, CIW Master Administrator
~~~~~
"Not all who wander are lost."
J.R.R.T.
-----Original Message-----
From: xyberpix [mailto:xyberpix@xyberpix.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 8:47 AM
To: Kristján Hreinn Bergsson
Cc: Paul Kurczaba; Security Basics[List]
Subject: RE: Hard Drive data security
Whoops! My error, yep Kristjan is right.
xyberpix
On Tue, 5 October, 2004 9:51 am, Kristján Hreinn Bergsson said:
Don't you mean:
dd if=/dev/null of=/dev/hda
Kristján
-----Original Message-----
From: xyberpix [mailto:xyberpix@xyberpix.com]
Sent: 4. október 2004 09:06
To: Paul Kurczaba
Cc: Security Basics[List]
Subject: Re: Hard Drive data security
In the past I have always used dd on this one, you will need access to
Linux, or a bootable linux distro, any of them will do, knoppix, phlak,
mini-slack, etc.
Then run:
dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/null
check the syntax by using man dd as I may have it backwards, but it'll
wipe it for you. I've known a couple of SysAd's who've done this by
accident on a live system in the past, and it wipes everything really
well.
xyberpix
On Tue, 2004-09-28 at 17:11, Paul Kurczaba wrote:
Hi,
I have a question about hard drive data security. The hard drive on
my notebook is failing and Dell is going to replace it. They are
going to take the old one with them. How can I securely remove the
data from the hard drive?
Thanks,
Paul
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