[Gllug] Disk Wipe

[john at sinodun.org.uk]

> On Monday 24 May 2004 12:11, Alain Williams wrote:
>
>> How secure do you want to be ? Or how sensitive is the data on the disk
>> ?
>>
>> If it is to be proof against the average guy in the street or you are
>> protecting non sensitive personal letters/..., then simply copying
>> /dev/zero to the disk will be enough:
>> 	dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
> Never do any secure-suppose-to-be operation based on zero filled files!
> use random.

The problem with using /dev/random is that it will take a ludicrously long
time for any non-trivial hard disc.  You might manage to wipe a floppy
that way, but that's about the limit.

As Alain said, if being proof against the average guy in the street is
enough, then use /dev/zero.

John
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