Re: Flash Memory Wiping

[Atom Smasher <atom () smasher org>]

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007, chandlg () hotmail com wrote:

> I have used an older version of “Eraser” with great success on various 
> types of media.  I will try the new version tonight.
>
> "Eraser is a secure data removal tool for Windows. It completely removes 
> sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with 
> carefully selected patterns. "
=====================

my only reservation about those types of data removal tools is that they 
make several writes to the device. flash drives can only be written to a 
limited number of times before they die. OTOH, most flash drives will die 
after one good hit with a hammer.

as always, it depends on your threat model... use what you think is best 
under the circumstances... delete (unlink) the files; overwrite them once; 
overwrite them N times; smash the device with a hammer; bury it next to 
jimmy hoffa; incinerate the drive and spread the ashes to all four corners 
of the world. it all depends on your threat model (and your budget for 
replacing drives).


--
        ...atom

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