Secure Erase of Disk Drive Data
Gordon F. Hughes · 2002
Consequently, user data often remains stored on disk drives when they are discarded, transferred to another user, or returned off lease. Even if users delete their files, they can be recovered from “recycling” folders or by special programs such as Norton Unerase. Other special programs are available to more definitely erase user data, such as Norton WipeInfo, which offers a “Government Wipe.” Because these are special programs, they are not widely known or used. Additionally, some user data can be unreachable by erasure programs, such as drive data blocks removed from use due to excessive errors. (These blocks are reassigned to other disk locations, and the defective record area is marked unusable in the drive’s “g-list”but the original data can remain in g-list sectors.) Norton WipeInfo only runs on older Windows OS, and wipes an individual folder.