[ubuntu-uk] mbr

[Liam Proven]

On 28 January 2012 20:31, Andy Smith <andy at bitfolk.com> wrote:
> Hi Paul,
>
> On Sat, Jan 28, 2012 at 08:16:19PM +0000, paul sutton wrote:
>> On 28/01/12 18:40, scoundrel50a wrote:
>> > What is so wrong about wanting to be able to securely wipe an
>> > hdd.........and why do people feel the need to be so condescending
>> > when somebody asks about it.......trying to make the person asking
>> > look guilty......funny thing, you seem to know how to do it, even with
>> > the attitude......
>> >
>> Agreed as in some cases you HAVE to ensure date can't be recovered.   Or
>> you may simply want to start over and re-install the system,  so a fully
>> blank hdd,  can rule out any problems that may occur later on.
>
> In what way is a disk that has had 0 written over it entirely not a
> "fully blank hdd"?

Well, in theory, if you paid Kroll Ontrack £LOTS then they claim to be
able to get much or all of the data off a zero-overwritten drive by
meticulously examining the very edge of the tracks for a sort of
magnetic overspill. Costs tens of thousands or more, though.

This is why programs like DBAN to the multiple-overwrite thing; to
scramble even these marginal areas.

But in everyday practice, you're right, a zeroed-out drive is fully
blank to all intents and purposes. Much "blanker" than one that's just
been quick-formatted, or that has merely had its partitions removed.

-- 
Liam Proven • Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile
Email: lproven at cix.co.uk • GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven
MSN: lproven at hotmail.com • Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven
Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 • Cell: +44 7939-087884