14.6.2 Disk Wiping Methods

Learn about the different tools one can use to wipe a disk.

Basically, you overwrite the data with random stuff that it looks like junk and will basically impossible to recover the data.

Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN)

A popular (and free) tool that can be downloaded and used to wipe hard disk drives. It's an .iso file and needs to be booted into. It's designed to "irrecoverably destroy data." It has 6 destruction methods:

• DoD 5220.22-M (7 passes of 0s, 1s, and random chars.)
• DoD Short (3 passes of the same)
• OPS-II
• Gutmann Method (35 different passes; generally considered overkill)
• PRNG Stream Method
• Quick Erase (a single pass; not considered enough, 3 passes is the bare minimum)

Windows Cipher

A native Windows CLI tool that performs a DoD Short Wipe of an inputted directory. The command is cipher /w.

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