jansson_mark
Markus Jansson
Premium
join:2001-08-05
Finland
| reply to SUMware
Re: Disk encryption may not be secure enough
Is there any way to easily overwrite old data in RAM?
I mean, starting computer up doesnt clear the whole RAM or does it? Booting some lame Knoppix wont consume enought RAM to clear it from sensitive data either? What can you do - except wait and hope for best?
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mikenolan7
Premium
join:2005-06-07
Torrance, CA
| Proves once again that physical access = owned.
There is a software memory wiper called SMEM. It was included in older versions of the System Rescue CD. I haven't downloaded a copy of System Rescue lately, so I don't know if it is still one of their packages. You would have to boot the System Rescue CD, then wipe your memory to go that route. I have used it when completely wiping a machine. In order for it to not stall and crash, I found that I had to set up a swap drive bigger than the amount of RAM in the machine (which System Rescue CD doesn't do on it's own). |
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SUMware
Premium
join:2002-05-21
| said by mikenolan7  :There is a software memory wiper called SMEM. It was included in older versions of the System Rescue CD. I haven't downloaded a copy of System Rescue lately, so I don't know if it is still one of their packages. Yes, thanks. SMEM is one of numerous integrated Linux commands.
From Sysresccd-manual-en Secure Deletion of Data quote:
SMEM from the THC-Secure Deletion Tools ( see »www.thc.org/releases.php?q=delete ) does a secure overwriting of unused memory (RAM)
For more information about SMEM, SRC, SHRED, etc. see:
Howto: Delete Files Permanently and Securely in Linux
smem - Secure memory wiper; used to wipe traces of data from your computer's memory (RAM) |
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Anonymous_
Anonymous
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join:2004-06-21
127.0.0.1
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2 edits | reply to jansson_mark
said by jansson_mark :Is there any way to easily overwrite old data in RAM? memtest86+ »www.memtest.org/
will over write it with usesless crap |
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a_large_rock
join:2003-08-02
Markham, ON
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| said by Anonymous_ :said by jansson_mark :Is there any way to easily overwrite old data in RAM? memtest86+ » www.memtest.org/will over write it with usesless crap Memtest86 on powerdown would work. I remember reading about a company 20 or 30 years ago using a watchdog card to whipe system memory on a powerdown/power failure. I'm not sure how easy that would be on a PC today. |
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