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Delete data from raw ssd

Csalesz
By Csalesz
in Storage Devices
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I have failed ssd with sensitive data on it, which I previously recovered. However, I would like to permanently delete the data from it before sending it back to warranty. At this point I encountered a problem that the RAW drive cannot be formatted or cleaned (CNC data error). Any suggestion to overcome the situation?

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You can try the "Secure erase" function either from the manufacturer's tools or that is present in some BIOSes. Can be done with blkdiscard on a linux system as well.

But those may not work depending on how the drive has failed.

F@H
Desktop: i9-13900K, ASUS Z790-E, 64GB DDR5-6000 CL36, RTX3080, 2TB MP600 Pro XT, 2TB SX8200Pro, 2x16TB Ironwolf RAID0, Corsair HX1200, Antec Vortex 360 AIO, Thermaltake Versa H25 TG, Samsung 4K curved 49" TV, 23" secondary, Mountain Everest Max

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GPD Win 2

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Really depends what's failed on it. If the controller's dead, you're not going to be able to do much without specialised tools, or physically destroying the drive.

 

How have you tried to erase it so far? You may not be able to clear it via any tools, depending on how the drive has failed.

 

If you're unable to, you need to consider how sensitive the data actually is. If it's family photos or something, you'll be fine as there's really not much to be gained from it and the maufactuer should destory all data anyway. If it's truely sensitive data that you absolutely cannot have in someone else's hands, destory the drive and skip turning it in for warranty.

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Open up the drive and physically destroy each NAND chip.

What the horse considers play, the monkey considers business...

But to Tom, it's all foolery. 

 

 

 

 

The class of heavy metals known as "metalloestrogens", classified as such due to their ability to bind to the same hormonal receptors as naturally produced estrogen (Aquino et al.), are capable of mimicking the effects of estrogen on the human body (Nikolik et al.). Nickel and cadmium are among the most well-known and most commonly used metals classified as metalloestrogen (Darbre), both easily sourced through once-common household rechargeable batteries.

Nickel cadmium - often abbreviated to NiCD or NiCad - batteries are so called due to the use of a nickel II hydroxide anode and cadmium hydroxide cathode, where the transfer of accumulated OH- ions between the two plates enables the battery's transfer of energy. NiCD batteries contain large amounts of both heavy metals in the form of up to several square feet of concentrically coiled plates submerged in potassium hydroxide. Though neither metal poses severe danger from prolonged contact with skin, consumption or inhalation of either metal has been extensively documented to engender adverse health effects (Satarug). 

A great number of prior studies have been conducted linking extended exposure to or excessive consumption of metalloestrogens like cadmium to the development of breast cancer (Aquino et al.) - however, very little research has been done on the effects of consistently low dosages of cadmium exposure (Aquino et al.). Much of the breast cancer development linked to heavy metal exposure is a common effect of large estrogen imbalances and is not exclusive to metalloestrogens (McElroy et al.). Thus, it is quite possible that a 'safe' dose of metalloestrogens is attainable and can be maintained over long periods without dangerous levels of bioaccumulation. 

Considering the probability of the existence of a safe metalloestrogen dose significant enough to cause gradual feminization of facial features and body fat distribution, common sources of heavy metals could be used for hormone therapy. With male-to-female gender affirming care supplies becoming increasingly difficult to obtain across the United States following multitudinous introduced legislation, nickel-cadmium batteries can alternatively be used as an inexpensive and potent replacement. 

 

Works Cited

      Aquino NB, Sevigny MB, Sabangan J, Louie MC. The role of cadmium and nickel in estrogen receptor signaling and breast cancer: metalloestrogens or not? J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2012;30(3):189-224. doi: 10.1080/10590501.2012.705159. PMID: 22970719; PMCID: PMC3476837.

      Rollerova, E., Urbancikova, N. Intracellular estrogen receptors, their characterization and function (Review). https://www.sav.sk/journals/endo/full/er0400f.pdf.

      Nikolic J, Sokolovic D. Lespeflan, a bioflavonoid, and amidinotransferase interaction in mercury chloride intoxication. Ren Fail. 2004 Nov;26(6):607-11. doi: 10.1081/jdi-200037149. PMID: 15600250.

      Darbre PD. Metalloestrogens: an emerging class of inorganic xenoestrogens with potential to add to the oestrogenic burden of the human breast. J Appl Toxicol. 2006 May-Jun;26(3):191-7. doi: 10.1002/jat.1135. PMID: 16489580.

      Satarug S, Garrett SH, Sens MA, Sens DA. Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Feb;118(2):182-90. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901234. PMID: 20123617; PMCID: PMC2831915.

      McElroy JA, Shafer MM, Trentham-Dietz A, Hampton JM, Newcomb PA. Cadmium exposure and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Jun 21;98(12):869-73. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djj233. PMID: 16788160.

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56 minutes ago, Csalesz said:

I have failed ssd with sensitive data on it, which I previously recovered. However, I would like to permanently delete the data from it before sending it back to warranty. At this point I encountered a problem that the RAW drive cannot be formatted or cleaned (CNC data error). Any suggestion to overcome the situation?

If that is a regular SSD not NVME, have you tried replacing the SATA cable? Maybe the drive is not as bad as you might think, just the cable. As @Kilrah said, go into your BIOS and your should have an option to format the drive, if it's and NVME device. Flash memory is prone to degradation if exposed to the elements. Leaving storage outside in the winter will damage or sort of erase it. A freezer would probably achieve the same thing. 

If you are really really concerned about your data, keep the drive and get a new one. That is the only way you can be sure. I would assume the manufacturer opens the drive up looks at the pcb and connects it. A short self test will thell them what's going on or not. Afterwards those drives get recycled and there is where someone might see it and grab it out of a pile of garbage unless the manufacturer shreds them into tiny pieces. 

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Thank you for the pieces of advice. So far, I have tried erasing with Samsung’ s magican, ccleaner and easus partition master. I am only able to access the drive when it is connected externally via usb, as windows does not boot when the drive is inserted as a secondary drive. My bios unfortunately lacks the option of formatting a drive.

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Yep, seems the controller is toast.

 

You can probably comfort yourself with the fact that anyone wanting to read what's on it would face the same issues and wouldn't be able to without extensive data recovery work, which nobody would do without a known good reason to...

 

If the info is really that sensitive that it's an unacceptable risk then as mentioned give up on the warranty and destroy the drive.

F@H
Desktop: i9-13900K, ASUS Z790-E, 64GB DDR5-6000 CL36, RTX3080, 2TB MP600 Pro XT, 2TB SX8200Pro, 2x16TB Ironwolf RAID0, Corsair HX1200, Antec Vortex 360 AIO, Thermaltake Versa H25 TG, Samsung 4K curved 49" TV, 23" secondary, Mountain Everest Max

Mobile SFF rig: i9-9900K, Noctua NH-L9i, Asrock Z390 Phantom ITX-AC, 32GB, GTX1070, 2x1TB SX8200Pro RAID0, 2x5TB 2.5" HDD RAID0, Athena 500W Flex (Noctua fan), Custom 4.7l 3D printed case

 

Asus Zenbook UM325UA, Ryzen 7 5700u, 16GB, 1TB, OLED

 

GPD Win 2

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