Secure Data Destruction

[Gorilla]

The other side of protecting sensitive information on a computer is its thorough destruction when required. This prevents scenarios in which a person is recovering files could potentially find old financial data, sensitive work related records, or any other pieces of information thought to be removed from the system by routine deletion. These are just some tools to help solve this problem


Eraser [Windows]

Eraser is an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. Works with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Windows 2003 Server and DOS.
Eraser is Free software and its source code is released under GNU General Public License.

The patterns used for overwriting are based on Peter Gutmann's paper "Secure Deletion of Data from Magnetic and Solid-State Memory" and they are selected to effectively remove magnetic remnants from the hard drive.

Other methods include the one defined in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual of the US Department of Defence and overwriting with pseudorandom data. You can also define your own overwriting methods.

Source: Eraser - Free secure data erase tool to wipe files on your hard drive
Download: SourceForge.net: Eraser

Darik's Boot and Nuke [OS Independent, Wipes Entire Drives]

Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

DBAN is a means of ensuring due diligence in computer recycling, a way of preventing identity theft if you want to sell a computer, and a good way to totally clean a Microsoft Windows installation of viruses and spyware. DBAN prevents or thoroughly hinders all known techniques of hard disk forensic analysis.

Features List: Darik's Boot and Nuke Product Feature Checklist
Download: Darik's Boot and Nuke (Hard Drive Disk Wipe)