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Submit to SlashdotIn my previous article on PC Inspector File Recovery and SuperShredder, I showed how easy it is to recover or “unerase” supposedly deleted files. I also showed how equally easy it is to completely erase files so they can not be recovered.
In this article, I will introduce a program that will not only erase individual files, but it “wipe” partitions or hard drives clean of any data. This program is Darik’s Boot and Nuke or DBAN.
Darik’s Boot and Nuke (“DBAN”) is a self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.
I always use this program when I am about to sell a hard drive or a computer. All I have to do is insert the floppy disk, restart the computer, and type “autonuke” in the prompt. It will do the rest.
Take the precaution to “please clearly label your DBAN boot media [floppy disk or CD-r] because it is dangerous.” The data will be completely unrecoverable. DBAN uses complex algorithms used by different security and government agencies. It utilizes the data wiping schemes of the following:
These wiping schemes are different methods organizations repeatedly and randomly overwrite data. In addition, DBAN will also do a Quick Erase scheme which just fills the hard disk with zeros.
Closing Remarks
So, this concludes my discussion on data recovery and proper data disposal. Use PC Inspector File Revocery to easily recover data. If deleting individual files, use SuperShredder. But, if entire partitions or hard disks need to be erased, use
December 20th, 2005 at 9:18 pm
Thanks – just what I was looking for
July 15th, 2008 at 1:37 am
I work in IT and this is the number 1 bit of software for making a blank drive, I have it on a USB stick and it never lets me down, thank you so much for allowing this to be free…