ITPEC FE Morning April 2018 Question 44

Data Sanitization — Overwriting all disk areas with random bits multiple times before disposal prevents data recovery from decommissioned storage.

The correct answer is d).

When a hard disk with confidential files is handed over for disposal, the proper countermeasure is to overwrite all areas of the hard disk with a random bit string multiple times. This technique (known as data wiping or sanitization) ensures that original data cannot be recovered using forensic tools.

Why not the others:
- a) Renaming files only changes the file system metadata — the actual data remains intact on disk sectors
- b) Compressing files transforms but preserves the data — it can be decompressed and read
- c) Erasing the master boot record only destroys the first 512 bytes — all file data on remaining sectors is untouched and recoverable

Key rule: Secure disposal requires either physical destruction (degaussing, shredding) or complete overwriting of all disk sectors with random data (e.g., DoD 5220.22-M standard).

AI-generated — may contain errors