Active@ KillDisk: A Comprehensive Data Destruction Solution with 20 Sanitizing Standards
Introduction
Active@ KillDisk is a robust and efficient data destruction software designed to ensure secure deletion of data from hard drives, SSDs, and other storage media. This comprehensive data erasure solution offers support for a wide range of sanitizing standards, ensuring the most stringent data security requirements are met. In this article, we will explore 20 such standards, their history, and the features that distinguish them.
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One Pass Zeros
One Pass Zeros is the simplest and least secure method of data destruction. It overwrites every sector of the hard drive with zeros only once. This method is not recommended for sensitive data as it is easily recoverable using data recovery techniques.
One Pass Random
One Pass Random overwrites every sector of the hard drive with a random pattern of data only once. It offers a higher level of security than One Pass Zeros but is still vulnerable to data recovery.
User Defined
User Defined allows users to customize the overwriting pattern, providing complete control over the data destruction process. Users can choose any pattern of data, from simple zeros or ones to complex random patterns.
US DoD 5220.22-M
Introduced in 1995, US DoD 5220.22-M, also known as DoD 5220.22, specifies a three-pass overwrite method: each data sector is overwritten with a pattern of zeros, ones, and then a random pattern. This standard has been widely adopted by the military and government organizations.
US DoD 5220.22-M (ECE)
The US DoD 5220.22-M (ECE) is an enhanced version of the original 5220.22-M standard. It uses the same three-pass method but with different overwriting patterns for each pass. The first pass writes zeros, the second pass writes ones, and the third pass writes a combination of zeros and ones.
US Department of Energy M205.1-2
US DoE M205.1-2, also known as MIL-STD-882, was introduced in 1995. It specifies a three-pass overwrite method consisting of zeros, ones, and a random pattern, similar to US DoD 5220.22-M.
Canadian OPS-II
Canadian OPS-II, also known as Canadian Forces Standard 2185, was introduced in 1995. It is a more rigorous standard, requiring seven passes to write over data sectors with different patterns.
Canadian CSEC ITSG-06
Canadian CSEC ITSG-06, also known as the Canadian Standard for Media Sanitization, was introduced in 2001. It is a more stringent standard, requiring three passes of overwriting with random data.
German VSITR
German VSITR, or the German Military Technical Manual, was introduced in 2001. It specifies a three-pass method using zeros, ones, and a random pattern.
Russian GOST p50739-95
Russian GOST p50739-95, also known as the Russian Standard for Data Destruction, was introduced in 1995. It specifies a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, ones, and a random pattern.
US Army AR380-19
US Army AR380-19, also known as the US Army Standard for Media Sanitization, was introduced in 1995. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, ones, and a random pattern.
US Air Force 5020
US Air Force 5020, also known as the US Air Force Standard for Media Sanitization, was introduced in 1995. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, ones, and a random pattern.
British HMG IS5 Baseline
British HMG IS5 Baseline was introduced in 2006. It is a two-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros followed by random data.
British HMG IS5 Enhanced
British HMG IS5 Enhanced, also known as the UK Government's Enhanced Sanitization Standard, was introduced in 2008. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, random data, and then a final pass of random data.
Navso P-5329-26 RL
Navso P-5329-26 RL is a US Navy standard introduced in 1997. It specifies a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, ones, and a random pattern.
Navso P-5329-26 MFM
Navso P-5329-26 MFM is an updated US Navy standard introduced in 2004. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, ones, and a random pattern, specifically designed for MFM drives.
NCSC-TG-025
NCSC-TG-025, also known as the National Cyber Security Centre's Standard for Media Sanitization, was introduced in 2014. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, random data, and then a final pass of random data.
NSA 130-2
NSA 130-2, also known as the National Security Agency's Standard for Media Sanitization, was introduced in 1998. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, ones, and a random pattern.
Bruce Schneier
Bruce Schneier's data destruction method, introduced in 2001, suggests overwriting each sector three times with random data. This method, while more secure, is also more time-consuming and costly.
Gutmann
Gutmann's method, introduced in 1996, specifies overwriting each sector with 35 distinct patterns of data, each pattern consisting of various combinations of zeros and ones. This method is considered the most secure but also the most time-consuming and costly.
NIST 800-88
NIST 800-88, also known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Special Publication 800-88, was introduced in 2014. It is a comprehensive publication covering various aspects of media sanitization and degaussing, providing guidelines for secure data destruction. The guidelines mention three methods: one pass zero, one pass random and three passes zero, ones and random.
Australian ISM-6.2.93
Australian ISM-6.2.93, also known as the Australian Government Information Security Manual, was introduced in 2011. It is a three-pass method overwriting data sectors with zeros, random data, and then a final pass of random data.
Conclusion
Active@ KillDisk's ability to delete data using these 20 sanitizing standards underscores its versatility and commitment to data security. Each standard, with its unique history and features, represents the evolving data destruction landscape and the ever-increasing need for secure data erasure.
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