Securely erase individual files

As I might have previously mentioned1) 2), pressing “delete” in Windows (or on Linux or Macs) does not remove the file from the hard drive. The only thing that happens is that in the big list of files, the entry for that file is removed, so that the operating system knows that if it wants [...]

Securely erase hard drives

In a previous post I wrote about disk wiping tools. If you haven’t read that article, I suggest reading it before reading this one. Also, this article is written with the assumption that the reader has a fair amount of technical knowledge.
The reasons for wanting to wipe a hard disk drive are many:

You might expect a visit [...]

Can God Create a Rock So Heavy Even He Can’t Lift It?

Relax, this hasn’t turned into a religious blog, I’m simply drawing a parallel to one of the best data recovery companies out there, Norwegian Ibas. Ibas are experts on recovering lost or hidden data. And it’s amazing how often they succeed. Take a look at this charred wreck of a burnt PC1):
 
On this particular PC [...]

Why Google is Evil™

Do you like the Google search engine? Yeah? I do too. In fact, I LOVE Google, and basically don’t use any other search engine. Why would I? Google gives great search hits, it’s fast and has that lean, efficient interface that doesn’t get in the way of my searching for information.
But do I trust Google [...]

Why Skype is Evil™

So, you’re a security-minded individual who uses a HW firewall, a client firewall, antivirus SW and anti-spyware SW to protect yourself, your computer and your privacy. Great! Now you’ve found a great way to communicate with your friends and family in a secure fashion: Skype! Well, let’s take a deep breath and have a closer [...]

Another crappy product bites the dust

Apparently, the guys over at Secustick has convinced French military contractor Dassault, French bank Crédit Agricole and “the French intelligence service” (according to Secustick) that their new, cool “self-destructing” USB stick is the ultimate in portable storage security:
“a memory stick that will self-destruct after an incorrect password has been entered more than a set number [...]