Secure data destruction
Introduction
- Moving files to the "Recycle Bin" does not erase the data from the hard drive.
- The storage device must either be overwritten multiple times or be physically destroyed.
Hard drives
Data stored on hard drives can be erased using software that performs a "triple overwrite" process described in either of the following specifications:
- RCMP/CSE 'Triple Overwrite' OR
- US Department of Defense 'DoD short' (3 passes out of 7)
There are many software tools that can erase data in accordance with RCMP and/or DoD specifications.
Note: inclusion in this list is not an endorsement.
| Tool | Description | License |
|---|---|---|
| Eraser | Eraser is an advanced security tool for Windows which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. Eraser is currently supported under Windows XP (with Service Pack 3), Windows Server 2003 (with Service Pack 2), Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Server 2012. | GNU General Public License |
| nwipe | nwipe is a command that will securely erase disks using a variety of recognised methods. It is a fork of the dwipe command used by Darik's Boot and Nuke (dban). It is essentially the same as dwipe, with a few changes:
nwipe is packaged as part of the BitCurator environment. | GNU General Public License v2.0 |
| Active Killdisk | tool set that allows to sanitize storage media using more than 20 international erase methods including US DoD 5220.22 M. It erases permanently all data on Hard Disks, Solid State Drives, Memory Cards & USB disks, SCSI storage & RAID disk arrays even in parallel mode. | Proprietary, must purchase license |
| DBAN | Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot image that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN is appropriate for bulk or emergency data destruction. | GNU General Public License |
| BCWipe | BCWipe is designed to selectively remove all traces of unwanted files beyond recovery. BCWipe will wipe selected files, folders, Data Remanence, Wipe Free Space, Wipe File Slack space, Wipe Temporary Files, wipe system-specific data and more. BCWipe comes built with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22-M) and U.S. Department of Energy (DoE M 205.1-2) standards, as well as other popular wiping standards. | Proprietary, must purchase license |
Optical discs
- Destroy using a strip or crosscut style shredder designed to handle optical discs or use a secure shredding supplier that can handle optical discs.
Magnetic tapes
- Destroy magnetic tapes with a secure shredding supplier that can handle magnetic tape.
- Magnetic tape can jam strip or crosscut style shredders and incineration will create toxic fumes.
Floppy disks
- Destroy floppy disks with a secure shredding supplier that can handle floppy disks.