List of Data Sanitization Methods

by William / Mon Dec 10 2018

In the previous post, we made a list of 40 data sanitization software status, each program has built-in some or at least one wiping algorithm/standard, today, we’ll make another list of all data wiping plans that used in the many programs.

Lifewire(Data Sanitization Methods)

Standard Algorithms Programs Note

Secure Erase

  • Pass 1: Writes a binary one or zero
  • MHDD
  • CopyWipe
  • hdparm
Some programs name might look like they support Secure Erase, but not

DoD 5220.22-M

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero and verifies the write
  • Pass 2: Writes a one and verifies the write
  • Pass 3: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • DBAN
  • CBL Data Shredder
  • Eraser
  • Securely File Shredder
  • Freeraser
  • Macrorit Data Wiper
The DoD 5220.22-M method is no longer permitted for use by various members of the CSA including the DoD, DoE, NRC, and CIA

NCSC-TG-025

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero and verifies the write
  • Pass 2: Writes a one and verifies the write
  • Pass 3: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • File Shredder
  • Disk Shredder
National Computer Security Center (NCSC)

AFSSI-5020

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero
  • Pass 2: Writes a one
  • Pass 3: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • Eraser
  • Hard Disk Scrubber
  • PrivaZer
Air Force System Security Instruction 5020

AR 380-19 (US Army)

  • Pass 1: Writes a random character
  • Pass 2: Writes a specified character
  • Pass 3: Writes the complement of the specified character and verifies the write
  • Eraser
  • PrivaZer
  • Delete Files Permanently
  • File Secure Free
  • Hard Drive Eraser
Army Regulation 380-19

NAVSO P-5239-26 (US Navy)

  • Pass 1: Writes a specified character
  • Pass 2: Writes the complement of the specified character
  • Pass 3: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • -
Navy Staff Office Publication

RCMP TSSIT OPS-II (Canada)

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero
  • Pass 2: Writes one
  • Pass 3: Writes a zero
  • Pass 4: Writes one
  • Pass 5: Writes a zero
  • Pass 6: Writes one
  • Pass 7: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • DBAN
  • Delete Files Permanently
  • Eraser
  • BCWipe
  • WipeDrive
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

CSEC ITSG-06 (Canada)

  • Pass 1: Writes a one or zero
  • Pass 2: Writes the complement of the previously written character
  • Pass 3: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • Active KillDisk
  • WhiteCanyon WipeDrive
Communication Security Establishment Canada (CSEC)

HMG IS5 (UK)

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero
  • Pass 2: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • Eraser
  • Disk Wipe
  • Delete Files Permanently
aditioanl pass: write zero in added in the HMG IS5 Enhanced algo

ISM 6.2.92 (Australia)

  • Pass 1: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • -
When the device capacity is less than 15GB, it uses 3 passes

NZSIT 402 (New Zealand)

  • Pass 1: Writes a random character and verifies the write
  • XErase
defined by the New Zealand government, and make sure that everything has actually been overwritten (verify)

VSITR (Germany)

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero
  • Pass 2: Writes a one
  • Pass 3: Writes a zero
  • Pass 4: Writes a one
  • Pass 5: Writes a zero
  • Pass 6: Writes a one
  • Pass 7: Writes a random character
  • Eraser
  • Secure Eraser
  • Delete Files Permanently
  • CBL Data Shredder
  • Hardwipe
  • Free EASIS Data Eraser
VSITR is short for Verschlusssache IT Richtlinien

GOST R 50739-95 (Russia)

  • Pass 1: Writes a zero
  • Pass 2: Writes a random character
  • or Pass 1: Writes a random character
  • Delete Files Permanently
  • Eraser
  • Hardwipe
  • Disk Wipe
  • Hard Disk Scrubber
some program needs to build the custom passes

Gutmann (Peter Gutmann)

  • first 4 and the last 4 passes: random character
  • Pass 5 - 31: a complex pattern of overwriting
  • DBAN
  • CBL Data Shredder
  • Disk Wipe
  • Macrorit Data Wiper
  • Eraser
  • Securely File Shredder
  • Secure Eraser
  • WipeFile
35 times of overwriting is overkill to hard drives, only use this method when it's necessary

Schneier (Bruce Schneier)

  • Pass 1: Writes a one
  • Pass 2: Writes a zero
  • Pass 3: Writes a stream of random characters
  • Pass 4: Writes a stream of random characters
  • Pass 5: Writes a stream of random characters
  • Pass 6: Writes a stream of random characters
  • Pass 7: Writes a stream of random characters
  • Eraser
  • Securely File Shredder
  • CBL Data Shredder
  • CyberShredder
  • Delete Files Permanently
  • Free EASIS Data Eraser
-

Pfitzner (Roy Pfitzner)

  • Pass 1 - 33: Writes a random character
  • Catalano Secure Delete
  • SecureRemove(Mac)
  • BitRaser
  • Scrub
35 times of overwriting isn't really necessary, a few passes, even one pass is enough for personal use

Random Data

  • Pass 1 - x: Writes a random character
  • DBAN
  • Macrorit Data Wiper
  • Eraser
  • and Disk Wipe
  • CBL Data Shredder
  • Freeraser
  • WipeFile
  • Secure Eraser
  • TweakNow SecureDelete
  • Free File Shredder
you can manually set numbers of passes

Write Zero

  • Pass 1: Writes a Zero
  • the format command
  • DBAN
  • HDShredder
  • KillDisk
  • Macrorit Data Wiper
  • WipeFile
  • BitKiller
most programs use this as the default wiping algorithm

Related link: 40 Free Data Destruction Software Programs Status

Please Note that some of the programs listed here are paid software, check their homepage to see if they had a free alternative

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