Information Security

Questions tagged [data-remanence]

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9
votes
1answer
1k views

Should a secure ATA erase be performed on a non-SSD drive?

When running the command hdparm -I /dev/sda the following output is generated. ATA device, with non-removable media Model Number: WDC WD10JPVX-75JC3T0 Serial ...
2
votes
2answers
110 views

Is corrupting the ciphertext corruption a good erasure?

Normally when you wipe a drive there are still ghost remains of the data even after overwriting the disk multiple times. So I was wondering if you could encrypt the drive and then overwrite the ...
88
votes
1answer
17k views

Wiping an SSD with Parted Magic seemed too quick

I'm selling a computer with an SSD (it's a Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon X1). I wiped the drive using Parted Magic. I used the ATA method. I'm not sure what that is but it was the only setting available. It ...
3
votes
5answers
712 views

How to securely sanitize data tapes, and audit the results?

I work at an electronics recycling facility and we were just presented with an offer from a client that would like to buy our used data tapes. Our problem is that we have never sanitized data tapes as ...
2
votes
1answer
190 views

Are deleted offline calendar events in Android actually deleted?

When an Android app deletes a calendar event in a local (offline / non-synced) calendar, does Android's Calendar Storage (com.android.providers.calendar) actually delete the event or does it just flag ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views

What is the current EU standard for data destruction?

I have been hunting around for a couple of weeks trying to find what the current standards for sensitive data destruction in the EU/UK are. If you look at the destruction companies they have several ...
0
votes
1answer
106 views

Are there attacks to steal database records from memory in cloud?

Imagine a hosted database in public cloud. The database records are encrypted only on disk (data-at-rest). Are there are any attacks that steal the database records from the memory (when queries are ...
3
votes
2answers
265 views

Is there a way to guarantee removal of data after closing Facebook / Gmail / Dropbox account? [closed]

Of course my default way of thinking is: deleted: true while keeping all the data in place. In fact I would be interested in knowing what standard operating procedures are in place for retention of ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views

Is data-remanence a concern in RAM?

I know data-remanence is a concern on hard drives, but is it a concern on RAM? For example, once a program completes, is its data still available on RAM, just as data on a hard drive remains after ...
75
votes
10answers
16k views

Would it be good secure programming practice to overwrite a “sensitive” variable before deleting it?

Is it good secure programming practice to overwrite sensitive data stored in a variable before it is deleted (or goes out of scope)? My thought is that it would prevent a hacker from being able to ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views

Does microwaving a CD erase it?

I just read the question: Does microwaving a hard drive erase it? and now I am curious too... does microwaving a CD (or for that matter, DVD, or blu-ray) erase it? My initial thought is that some ...
45
votes
1answer
35k views

Does WinRAR leave traces of temporarily extracted files?

If I have an encrypted RAR file which will only open using a password, and I opened a file directly from within WinRAR by double clicking the file inside WinRAR, I assume that WinRAR will create a ...
4
votes
2answers
181 views

What are the benefits of having multiple overwriting patterns for secure deletion? [duplicate]

When installing a new AIX server, there is a possibility to use several patterns for secure deletion. My question: Is it necessary to use several patterns? What is the benefit from having several ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views

Ensure data doesn't linger after being deleted

I'm trying to make a service that keeps as little data on its users as possible. To that end, I want to make sure that someone using forensic tools won't gain any more information than I would by ...
9
votes
8answers
14k views

Overwriting hard drive to securely delete a file?

I am working on a computer that I am not allowed to install new software on. It does not have secure delete software installed. Suppose I have a file (or files) that are sensitive that I'd like to ...
17
votes
2answers
5k views

Is Data Remanence a Myth? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why is writing zeros (or random data) over a hard drive multiple times better than just doing it once? Multiple overwrites have often been discussed as a secure way of erasing ...