Completely destroy all files?

[Clearly Confused]

So i have a question, is there a command or a software that will "purge" all of the data on the computer (including OS) without killing the hard drive?

 

I need this for a scenario like this (almost): The FBI knocks on your door, wanting to get the data from your PC (and you 100% don't want that to happen). So you run to your PC and press something weird like SHIFT+TAB+DELETE, and boom the drive "force formats" or something sci-fi.

 

Thanks!

 

*edit* "sensitive files":

I hope no one is taking this too seriously :-) (i need the stuff tho)

[Guest]

rm -rf /

ok I know nothing about pc and that command will most likley not work

[Clearly Confused]

2 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

rm -rf /

ok I know nothing about pc and that command will most likley not work

I don't have the balls to try mate :-D

[Griefa]

Bash the keyboard furiously, then insert into computer.

[Guest]

Just now, Clearly Confused said:

I don't have the balls to try mate :-D

Are you a gurl?

[Princess Luna]

You can always microwave your HDD, that'll kill everything for sure, but likely will kill your microwave in the process too... but if you literally have to hide stuff from the FBI so you don't get arrested for child porn then losing a microwave is doable? lol

[Bananasplit_00]

USB stick with DOS on it running something like Davids Boot Nuke or something(DBM probably wont run on DOS but there are most likely things that will)

 

 

*edit*

honestly if you want your harddrive data gone i would either open it(usiually 4 screws or so) and stomp the platters and sandpaper whats left of it

[pbx2]

Del tree

will remove everything but not overwrite it.

It will take ages for a program to do so however.

 

You are better off in that scenario to have a powerful magnet nearby and also a battery to short out the drive and magno wipe it

 

 

Not actually going to ask why you want it though.

[Clearly Confused]

Just now, Princess Cadence said:

You can always microwave your HDD, that'll kill everything for sure, but likely will kill your microwave in the process too... but if you literally have to hide stuff from the FBI so you don't get arrested for child porn then losing a microwave is doable? lol

Hey im not the one with an MLP profile picture :-p

[Princess Luna]

1 minute ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

USB stick with DOS on it running something like Davids Boot Nuke or something(DBM probably wont run on DOS but there are most likely things that will)

That kills the computer, not the data stored on the drivers though.

[AshleyAshes]

3 minutes ago, Clearly Confused said:

So i have a question, is there a command or a software that will "purge" all of the data on the computer (including OS) without killing the hard drive?

 

I need this for a scenario like this (almost): The FBI knocks on your door, wanting to get the data from your PC (and you 100% don't want that to happen). So you run to your PC and press something weird like SHIFT+TAB+DELETE, and boom the drive "force formats" or something sci-fi.

 

Thanks!

For an SSD, there are commands to do this and it's nearly instantanious.  For an HDD However, it'd take too long.  For an HDD all you'd HAVE to do is zero the drive, that is, fill it full of zeros.  People will talk about more elaborate measures, but so far in recorded research or law enforcement, no one has ever ACTUALLY recovered a file that was simply zeroed.  But your problem is you have to WRITE those zeros.  As in, to zero a 500GB HDD, you'd have to write 500GB of zeros.  It would take exactly as long as it'd take to write 500GB of any data to a file.  If you have people breaking down your door, you wouldn't have enough time.

[Schakal_No1]

If you are really concerned about something like this you have to encrypt your disk and just pull the power plug if this scenario happens.

[Princess Luna]

Just now, Clearly Confused said:

Hey im not the one with an MLP profile picture :-p

But I'm a girl so I am allowed to have it even though I'm 22 years old right?........ right??

[Bananasplit_00]

Just now, Princess Cadence said:

That kills the computer, not the data stored on the drivers though.

pretty sure DBM formats your drives and overwrights them too

[AshleyAshes]

1 minute ago, Princess Cadence said:

You can always microwave your HDD

The hard drive is encased in metal, the microwaves would bounce off the metal exterior and never penetrate the drive or touch the platters.  You might damage the PCB on the exterior but the platters would be intact.

[pbx2]

1 minute ago, AshleyAshes said:

For an SSD, there are commands to do this and it's nearly instantanious.  For an HDD However, it'd take too long.  For an HDD all you'd HAVE to do is zero the drive, that is, fill it full of zeros.  People will talk about more elaborate measures, but so far in recorded research or law enforcement, no one has ever ACTUALLY recovered a file that was simply zeroed.  But your problem is you have to WRITE those zeros.  As in, to zero a 500GB HDD, you'd have to write 500GB of zeros.  It would take exactly as long as it'd take to write 500GB of any data to a file.  If you have people breaking down your door, you wouldn't have enough time.

Write a program to do so?

[Griefa]

Giant magnets win my vote!

[Schakal_No1]

The problem with any software command is, that you can forensically get the data back. You would need to overwrite any data a couple times until that is not possible anymore. This cannot be done in time. So like I mentioned before encryption is your best bet.

[Clearly Confused]

2 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

But I'm a girl so I am allowed to have it even though I'm 22 years old right?........ right??

And im allowed to have cp on my pc when im 13 ,right?.......right? (jk don't sue me)

[Clearly Confused]

1 minute ago, Schakal_No1 said:

The problem with any software command is, that you can forensically get the data back. You would need to overwrite any data a couple times until that is not possible anymore. This cannot be done in time. So like I mentioned before encryption is your best bet.

Im 99.9% sure the FBI can get that out of the way.

[porina]

Option 1: Use full drive encryption with a strong password, and hope your local laws don't allow them to compel you to reveal it. This wont work in the UK for example, as it is a specific offense to not give a password if legally required. It could help against non-law enforcement attempts at acquiring your data though. I wouldn't rely on taking the 5th in the US either.

 

Option 2: if SSD, initiate a secure erase command. The drive should not allow further access until the erase has completed. There is a possible weakness here that if power is removed before completion, it is possible to extract data from the raw chips if someone is sufficiently determined, but full disk encryption should frustrate that.

[knightslugger]

Unless the data is encrypted, there is no instant bang switch for HDDs. Your best bet is to fry the computer with molten iron.

[Schakal_No1]

Just now, Clearly Confused said:

Im 99.9% sure the FBI can get that out of the way.

I'm not sure about american law but in germany you cannot be forced to give your password. And if your encryption is good enough there is no way around it.

[2FA]

3 minutes ago, Clearly Confused said:

Im 99.9% sure the FBI can get that out of the way.

Use AES 256 with a completely random key you type in that is 40+ characters long. Nobody is decrypting that.

[Arcanekitten]

2 minutes ago, Clearly Confused said:

Im 99.9% sure the FBI can get that out of the way.

Why are you so concerned about the FBI lmao 

Encryption is something a normal human being won't be able to crack for the coming 90+ years if you use a correct encryption.