Security Basics mailing list archives

Re: Interesting One


From: "John Orr" <JOrr () austinbank com>
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 12:15:22 -0600

  Personally, I think he is full of... hot air.  

  Bits are either "on" or "off", "1" or "0".  If you change that pattern (i.e. write over the same data area with a 
different sequence of bits), then the previous state of that field would not be determinable.  Granted, there may be 
some residual magnetic field left on a particular area that is now "0" that had been "1", but the converse would not be 
true.  There would be no residual field to read on an area that is now "1" that had been "0".  

  Sounds like sales fluff to me.

  Anyway, that is my opinion, based on years of experience and a good knowledge of physics.  

-John

--------------------------------------
John Orr
VP/CIO
Austin Bank
903.759.3828 x2113
903.297.3094 fax
jorr () austinbank com

"Dave Adams" <dadams () johncrowley co uk> 10/28/02 04:06PM >>>
Greetings Folks,

I had an interesting conversation today with someone from FAST
(Federation
Against Software Theft) They pretend not to be a snitch wing of the BSA.
Anyway, to get to the point, the guy that came to see me said that their
forensics guys could read data off a hard drive that had been written
over
up to thirty times. I find this very hard to believe and told him I
thought
he was mistaken but the guy was adamant that it could be done. My
question
is, does anyone have any views on this, or, can anyone point me to a
source
of information where I can get the facts on exactly how much data can be
retrieved off a hard drive and under what conditions etc etc.

Thanks

Dave Adams
 
 
 
This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the 
use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may 
contain information that is confidential, subject to copyright or
constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient 
you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or 
distribution of this message, or files associated with this message, 
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, 
please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting 
it from your computer. Messages sent to and from 
John Crowley (Maidstone) Ltd may be monitored. 

Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free 
as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive 
late or incomplete, or contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept 
responsibility for any errors or omissions that are present in this 
message, or any attachment, that have arisen as a result of e-mail 
transmission. If verification is required, please request a hard-copy 
version. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author 
and do not necessarily represent those of John Crowley (Maidstone) Ltd.


Current thread: