Wiping a drive with confidential data on it

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FroColin

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I've got a client who's a teacher. She's got a bunch of old PC's that she doesn't know what to do with (along with a whole host of odd things), she wants me to take a look at the machines and wipe the drives if they can't be repaired. But student data has some laws protecting it's confidentiality. She's asked if I had a form that essentially would say I wouldn't divulge the contents of the drive. I have no such form and I'm unsure of how to proceed. Any advice? Is there an easy NDA or something similar I can print out and sign? Has anyone had to deal with a similar situation?
Thanks
 
that looks like a good tool, shame I can't find it in the UK

edit found somewhere, they didn't even show up on google for it.
 
Last edited:
4ycr said:
that looks like a good tool, shame I can't find it in the UK

edit found somewhere, they didn't even show up on google for it.
Click to expand...

I learned about it from here on these boards...I think it was TechLady that posted a link about it, she was ordering it or had just ordered it.

Very good device. Only pain in the arse thing is it uses a serial connection for the printer, designed to work with certain label printers. We picked up a Zebra 2844.
Slap a label on the HDD if you want..if you reuse them. We slap the label on the certificate of destruction we made...copy to client, copy in clients file at our office.
 
glricht said:
Looks pretty nice. Since there's no prices on the web page, would you mind sharing how much you paid for it? An approximate price is fine.
Click to expand...

Recall paying mid-200 range direct from them through Amazon...

The Zebra label printers are the more expensive part (typically 300-450 bucks).....(if you want that option)...but we picked up an old one from a client of ours that has a huge stock of them and happened to have one of the older compatible serial port models kicking around in their storage unused. So we tossed the client a couple of hours credit for it. :) Shop around fleabay. ;)

Even if you have an investment of 500 bucks all said 'n done..if you're charging from 50-100 bucks per "wipe"....the whole setup pays for itself quickly, and it's such a time saver for you, plus the professional method of documenting it, ....great setup! :cool:
 
Stonecat, I pickedup basically the same setup last week, only I have a new Zebra printer. The DriveErazer instructions say they tested extensively with Zebra, and I would most likely need a DB9 Null Modem Cable...so thats what I picked up but printing does not work. I have a straight through DB9 cable on order now so hopefully that fixes the issue.

What type of serial cable are you using for it to work? The Zebra documentation does not really give a specific type needed.
 
E-mail from their support guy when we got it..
"The serial connector is a standard DB9 female connector with standard DB9 pin out. We use two of the pins: ground & transmit. The connector should be used with a null modem cable and a printer that can accept ZPL format text, such as the models listed above. We expect virtually any Zebra brand printer that supports ZPL to work, but other brands are unknown. With the Zebra printers, something to note is that the cable would need to be a Null modem cable. DB9 Male to DB9 Male cable."

We had one made from ...cablestogo or...monoprice. I think.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
E-mail from their support guy when we got it..
"The serial connector is a standard DB9 female connector with standard DB9 pin out. We use two of the pins: ground & transmit. The connector should be used with a null modem cable and a printer that can accept ZPL format text, such as the models listed above. We expect virtually any Zebra brand printer that supports ZPL to work, but other brands are unknown. With the Zebra printers, something to note is that the cable would need to be a Null modem cable. DB9 Male to DB9 Male cable."

We had one made from ...cablestogo or...monoprice. I think.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I purchased a m/m null modem cablestogo but it does not work. If the straight through cable doesnt work I guess I will be calling support.
 
RICKIB3 said:
call me crazy but my favourite form of data destruction is a good old hammer and a vice

no way of breaking confidentially anymore!
Click to expand...

We actually used to physically destroy them too..smashing, or our guys favorite method for a while...taking cover off drive, holding a sharp bit against a platter...and fire it up and let it spin for a while, gauging grooves across the surface.

But noisy, messy, time consuming.
 
RICKIB3 said:
call me crazy but my favourite form of data destruction is a good old hammer and a vice

no way of breaking confidentially anymore!
Click to expand...

Pull!

1336500690_clay_pigeon_shooting.gif
 
I use to do some warranty calls for Dell. I had a call at the Pantex Nuclear Weapon Assembly plant outside of Amarillo Tx. Had to be signed in, patted down, couldn't take my Palm Treo in and had to leave it at the security desk. On any normal Dell call I had to ship the old dead HDD back to dell. Obviously Pantax had a special arrangement. They asked if I wouldn't mind witnessing the destruction of the drive. Told me it would be cool to watch. He wasn't lying.

They have a metal grinder designed just for this. They had me put on sound protection earmuffs, and they dropped it in. Took about 2 minutes to turn a 40GB drive into hot metal confetti. :eek: They poured it into a mason jar. Taped it up and had me sign the tag on it. :cool:
 
Friend of mine that was in the Army sent me a video once. He was in the Signals corp stationed in Hawaii. They kill two birds with one stone. They dig a pit at the ordinance range and place all the hard drives that need to be sanitized in it, along with the explosives that are nearing there use by date. They Cover it with dirt to attenuate the shock, and cut down on flying debris...and then boom.
 
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