Recommend me a Hard Drive (SSD) secure data eraser

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:06 pm

Need to wipe an SSD I just sold to a forum member and have not done one in a while and need to do so

cratch

Thanks!

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:35 pm

Any single pass easer would work, like DBan. Additional passes are not only unnecessary but will wear out the cells.

I'd check the manufacturer's website first. They may have an eraser utility specifically designed for that drive.

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:49 pm

Thanks.

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:36 pm

to be completely safe, you want to use a utility that send the SSD a "secure erase" command. this is a SATA interface only command and will not work via USB. some manufacturers offer a SE utiltiy (Samsung for one), but many do not.

Parted Magic lets you do it, but it can be a pain, since most SSD drives enter a "locked down mode" if they are connected when the computer boots. this blocks the secure erase command for security reasons. i just went through this a week ago. erasing via dban and other standard methods do not guarantee the data is deleted due to how the SSD drive constantly moves data around via background garbage collection, TRIM, over provisioning, etc.

do a search for "secure erase SSD" and you'll see what i mean. i ended up doing the Parted Magic process and hot swapping the drive after the boot to get it to work. you can then verify it wiped it by looking at the SMART data. the SSD should record the number of secure erases done on it.

http://www.corsair.com/applicationnote/secure-erase

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