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General discussion

Erasing files you cannot see...??

Aug 27, 2005 5:40AM PDT

My craptacular ibook is now on it's second logic board asking for it's third. I've already scheduled a repair with Apple, however, I am reluctant to send in my notebook. I have files that I don't want anyone (a sneaky Apple technician for example) to see and possibly copy or steal. Call me paranoid if you must but,

Is there a way to wipe the drive or delete the files when I cannot get a screen image?

Discussion is locked

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Erase
Aug 27, 2005 7:54AM PDT

I guess that if you cannot see what you are doing, then you will not be able to figure out how to erase the HD.
Bear in mind that you cannot erase the HD as long as you are booted from it. The system will not allow it.
Unless you have something illegal on the drive, that is immediately apparent, I would not be too concerned that someone is going to see them. If they were that secret, one would assume that you would have them locked down in the File Vault. The Apple tech who repairs your machine has far more important things to be doing than rummaging around your HD looking for "secret" stuff.
In some states, a computer tech is legally bound to report certain things to the local law. Pirated copies of software and downloaded MP3's do not fall into that category.

P

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just so P but...
Aug 28, 2005 1:29AM PDT

if you really wanted to erase your hd - Hypothetically, wouldn't a strong magnetic force such as a mass video tape eraser or the electromagnet used to neutralize the security tags under the check out counter at a store erase your hd ? Or is it magnetically shielded ? The next question I can think of is would this destroy your computer by erasing commands in the rom portion and/or destroy the hd's ability to be reloaded with software.

Questions like these are why my parents locked up the tools in the house before I could take things apart (essentially destroying them LOL). Hey, don't blame me for being curious !

grim

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Theoretically,
Aug 28, 2005 5:17AM PDT

Maybe, but you have to remember that the DOD/NSA and the other "good" guys require that a drive be wiped by writing 1's and 0's to it, multiple times.
The strong magnet is an idea but difficult to do. You would probably have to open the iBook case to be effective and that would probably void the warranty.


P

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I heared a rumour-probably an urban legend...
Aug 29, 2005 11:45AM PDT

that the NSA and other ultra black organizations actually erase, then put it in a grinder, THEN take the fragments and store them in a secure facility... paranoia or urban legend. YOU DECIDE !

grim

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Erase
Aug 28, 2005 11:36AM PDT

Peter, Why not copy eveything to an external hard drive as backup and proceed to do a clean install?
Would that work if he had an external backup?
Paranoid and illigal both?

-Kevin

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There is NO video
Aug 28, 2005 9:54PM PDT

so he can't see what is going on


P

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I have stuff like account numbers...
Aug 29, 2005 11:57AM PDT

and other financial info that I would not want to send off for some one else to see so I can understand the privacy issue.

Like the baseball catcher said to the batter..."got any naked pictures of your wife... no ?... want some ?"

grim