Secure-deletion-a-single-overwrite-will-do-it

[somanyholes]

might be of interest

http://www.heise-online.co.uk/security/Secure-deletion-a-single-overwrite-will-do-it--/news/112432

[Rik]

Interesting, So. I wonder whether we've been being conned, or whether people genuinely believed data could be recovered?

[somanyholes]

not sure rik, even after reading this bit... I Still feel happier knowing it's had some random data thrown at it.

Nevertheless, that doesn't stop the vendors of data-wiping programs offering software that overwrites data up to 35 times, based on decades-old security standards that were developed for diskettes. Although this may give a data wiper the psychological satisfaction of having done a thorough job, it's a pure waste of time.

[Rik]

I'm with you, So, I'd rather put a bit more effort in and feel safe. Though, to be fair, I usually apply the effort with a club hammer.

[Glenn]

Like have said before, we had forensic data recovery software running on a workstation, it managed with a deep sweep to recover data going back to when it was first imaged, over 5 years ago, during that time it was re-imaged at least once.