How to destroy your Computer Data. Make it Unrecoverable

Deleting a file, does not really delete the file. Sounds familiar? Not to everyone but oh well.
In a Windows system, which accounts for a high percentage of usage, deleting the file just eliminates the record of where the file began. The file is simply detached from its original folder and reattached to the recycle bin. Then you empty the recycle bin and now the FILE IS GONE! Not so much.

The file has not been permanently removed from the disk, just the reference to it.
File’s data remains on the disk using a space that after deletion has been marked as unallocated or available and can be used by other files. Every time a new file is created and uses the space made unallocated by a deleted file, the deleted file gets overwritten partly or completely, depending on the size of the new file. Any parts of the deleted file that gets partially overwritten are called slack space. If the file was not completely overwritten by the new file, the data on the file can still be recoverable.

Using software in order to destroy/hide evidence, format and/or de-fragmenting hard drives, overwrite and/or delete data, are somewhat FUTILE. All of these types of procedures are detectable by Forensic Experts and software that claim all of the above can be done and render the Data unrecoverable…are not telling you the whole deal.

Yes, Data is not recoverable, not recoverable by losers like me or those computer shops who are not from the government. But take that hard drive to NSA, to any other government agency with Forensic Experts and be sure their methods of recovering data is nothing like you have ever seen. Well, if you are into some illegal activity or involved in deep **** cyber criminal activities, this is where your computer will End up.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer System
• Money
• Any of the tools listed

1. The following methods of data deletion or destruction are available:

2. Formatting
   Formatting a drive before disposal may initially seem to delete all data - however, a format just rewrites the disk allocation table information, and does not overwrite all sectors of the drive, meaning that files are still present and can be easily recovered. This method can compromise information and is not recommended for disposal of sensitive or PID storage.

3. Zero Formatting
   Zero Formatting simply writes a zero to every sector on the disk, overwriting all data. However, due to the way a hard disk works, the sectors containing data are still magnetized and all files can still be recovered. This method should not be used for PID, or disks that will be reused/resold, but may be used for low-security applications on drives slated for later disposal/destruction.

4. "DOD" 3-9 Pass Erasure
   Multipass secure-erase programs will write a number of passes of pseudorandom data over files, making them harder to recover - most programs use 3, 7, or 9 passes that they claim are government standards - they are, but for RAM chips, not hard drives. Even after these erase passes, someone using disk forensic techniques may be able to extract data from them. Because of this, disks erased using this technique may be vulnerable to recovery of some PID, and are therefore not recommended except as a last resort.

5. 35 Pass Gutman
   Peter Gutmann created an algorithm that overwrites data with 35 different patterns, designed to cause the most magnetic fluctuation over a disk sector, removing the residual magnetism that represents the data, making data erased with this method nearly impossible to recover. This method is recommended for erasure of hard drives that will be reused or resold, but it takes a long time when erasing large drives.

6. Physical Destruction
   The only method for hard drive disposal recommended by the Department of Defense is complete physical destruction - either melting down the hard drive to raw metal, or shredding of the drive into very small pieces. These methods completely destroy the hard drive media and all data contained on it. This is the recommended method for disposal of hard drives that will not be resold or reused.

7. Drive degaussing
   Degaussing is much more secure than overwriting because data is actually eliminated rather than covered up. Degaussing destroys the functionality of the drive so it can no longer be used.
   How it works: Data on a hard drive is actually stored in a magnetic field that resides between the drive platter and cobalt chromium plating on the platter. Degaussing reduces the magnetic field to a zero state which eliminates all the data stored in the field. The drive must be removed from the PC and placed in a degaussing unit one at a time. The process generally takes about one minute per drive.
   Limitations: Degaussers cost anywhere between $15K and $50K and only one drive can be degaussed at a time. Be ready to pay significantly more for this level of security. When it doesn’t work: The amount of magnetic force applied by a degausser must be strong enough to negate the magnetic field in a given drive.
   The National Security Agency maintains a Degausser Products List that indicates the types of drives individual Degausser are capable of erasing. If you ship your recycler drives that their Degausser is not rated for, data could remain on the disk. Additionally, improper placement of the disk in the degausser can render the process ineffective.
   
   How to assure you are protected: Get the model number for your recycler’s Degausser and check with the NSA’s Degausser Products List at
   
   http://www.nsa.gov/ia/government/MDG/NSA_CSS-EPL-9-12.PDF
   
   To be sure that the drives you will be sending can effectively be degaussed by that unit. Again, random checking of degaussed drives will assure you that your recycler is using the equipment properly

Tips & Warnings

• WHILE EVERY PRECAUTION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN THE PREPARATION/MAKING OF THIS VIDEO TUTORIAL, THE VIDEO OWNER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.

Resources

• NSA’s Degausser Products List
• Jag Computer Forensics
• University of California, Santa Cruz