Paranoia

[Platinum]

I posted a while back about securely deleting files.

If files where put into the recycle bin and deleted; would a 'baddy' be able to recover said files over an internet connection (behind hardware & software firewall), or would they need to have the hard drive in a computer in front of them?

Thanks again.

[robdickinson]

They'd need either a root kit designed for the job installed on your computer or access to the hard drive/pc to install recovery software.

Over a normal net connection they would only get back what the filesystem reports to them.

[aldi]

Nothings impossible but in the grand scheme of things this is unlikley, what are you trying to hide and who wants it? Just curious like, go on you can tell me

[Platinum]

aldi said:

Nothings impossible but in the grand scheme of things this is unlikley, what are you trying to hide and who wants it? Just curious like, go on you can tell me

Nothing dodgey. Just work stuff.

[gorvid]

Horse porn...

[Platinum]

gorvid said:

Horse porn...

You mean some people do that for work?

[thepassenger]

Platinum said:

I posted a while back about securely deleting files.

If files where put into the recycle bin and deleted; would a 'baddy' be able to recover said files over an internet connection (behind hardware & software firewall), or would they need to have the hard drive in a computer in front of them?

Thanks again.

Not wishing to seem sarcastic to you plight but are we talking SECRET, TOP SECRET, RESTRICTED/CONFIDENTIAL or generic 'stuff'. If someone were to salvage the data from your system would it jepordise peoples lives? I hate to say it but if the answer is 'No' then really... screw it, the rinky dink stuff avaliable on the internet/PC World for free/cheap is more than man enough to delete the files permamently (as far as your concerned).

The only way for someone to 'get' your files whilst your behind a firewall (hardware & software in your case with I'm guessing a sprinklying of NAT thrown in) would be to already access via either physical (pinched it) or electronic means (keylogger) a good AV package will prevent the latter and well a good alarm and kensington locks will prevent the machine going walkies (but not being trashed in the attempt).

[Platinum]

thepassenger said:

Platinum said:

I posted a while back about securely deleting files.

If files where put into the recycle bin and deleted; would a 'baddy' be able to recover said files over an internet connection (behind hardware & software firewall), or would they need to have the hard drive in a computer in front of them?

Thanks again.

Not wishing to seem sarcastic to you plight but are we talking SECRET, TOP SECRET, RESTRICTED/CONFIDENTIAL or generic 'stuff'. If someone were to salvage the data from your system would it jepordise peoples lives? I hate to say it but if the answer is 'No' then really... screw it, the rinky dink stuff avaliable on the internet/PC World for free/cheap is more than man enough to delete the files permamently (as far as your concerned).

The only way for someone to 'get' your files whilst your behind a firewall (hardware & software in your case with I'm guessing a sprinklying of NAT thrown in) would be to already access via either physical (pinched it) or electronic means (keylogger) a good AV package will prevent the latter and well a good alarm and kensington locks will prevent the machine going walkies (but not being trashed in the attempt).

Just confidential stuff. Nothing government related etc.

Thanks for everyones help.

[robdickinson]

Just as an afterthought, theres no such thing as a hardware firewall.

Theres software running on dedicated hardware but not hardware itself (i.e. its just as vunerable to attack as anything else).

[bogie]

completely agree with the last 2 posts from Rob and thepassenger.

Unless you have something on your machine that *really* is "Top Secret" or "Eyes Only" then dont worry about it ....nobody will/can goto the effort...its easier to get the machine

....if the data is that important then it shouldnt be on the machine...it should be moving with you at all times in another format

...dont get too paranoid....govt agencies etc have better things to do ..............

[thepassenger]

To be honest I'd be more paranoid about backing up this data What can go wrong will go wrong as they say.

[bogie]

exactly

if its more important to *you* then make a copy .....a router/firewall and some anti-pest software will keep things safe from others .....but its always best to have really important stuff backed up regular in at least 2 places !


<says he whose work laptop died a week ago and had to wait 6 days for new one....thank feck I back up most days off-line!>

[Platinum]

robdickinson said:

Just as an afterthought, theres no such thing as a hardware firewall.

Theres software running on dedicated hardware but not hardware itself (i.e. its just as vunerable to attack as anything else).

Software in the router then. I knew what I meant.

[stealthdave]

You can always get a shredder program, plenty of freeware ones available, I think as rule of thumb data is recoverable up to 7 formats, although symantec do thorough shredding programs that write over the file more than 7 times making it really unrecoverable.....

On a different note, we etsted some software other week at work and the amount of files that you can recover from PCs when people think they have deleted them and emptied the recycle bin is incredible..

[_dobbo_]

If you are really paranoid why not use a file delition program that meets the US Department of Defense standard?

This one is free: SDelete

Can't comment as to how good it is as I've not used it myself since I have no need for it!