Securely Erase Hard Disks : Open Source Linux Tool

If you are concerned about the security of your data, identity thefts, or simply wish to protect your privacy (credit card info, passwords, private mails etc., - all leave footprints on your disks!!), you should be aware that your computer hard-disks has to be 'completely wiped/erased' before you hand over your systems/ hard disk for repairs or disposal/ buy-back etc.

There are many commercial tools available for the task costing oddles of money!! I generally get along using Open Source freeware tools. A handy freeware tool that I would recommend for Windows users is 'Eraser'(available here) :

"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 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Server 2008. Eraser is Free software and its source code is released under GNU General Public License."

Recently  I stumbled upon a very convenient and easy to use tool that should be part of everyones 'fire-fighting software' pack!! Its called Darik's Boot and Nuke (commonly known as DBAN), is Open Source, and can be downloaded and used for FREE!!!

DBAN is based on Linux (it is an Open Source project hosted on Sourceforge),  and is designed to securely erase a hard disk until data is permanently removed and no longer recoverable (Note for the geeks: This is achieved by overwriting the data with random numbers generated by Mersenne twister or ISAAC (a PRNG)).

DBAN can be configured to automatically wipe every hard disk that it sees on a system, making it very useful for unattended data destruction scenarios. DBAN can be booted from a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive . It supports the currently used IDE, SCSI and SATA hard drives.

DBAN is highly recommend to be used  prior to computer recycling for personal or commercial reasons, such as donating or selling a computer. From the DBAN web-site:

"Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk 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.

DBAN is a free software product that can be used at home or in a business at zero cost. The only official place to obtain DBAN is by download at this web site. We do not sell DBAN media."