Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Specific memory composition
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-21
2001-04-03
Yoo, Do (Department: 2187)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Specific memory composition
C360S060000, C713S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212600
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to the field of electronic systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for sanitization of fixed storage devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One problem faced by organizations in various industries is what to do with fixed storage devices, such as hard disk drives, when they become obsolete or need to be transferred between personnel. This is particularly problematic where the storage devices have been used to store sensitive information. For example, in government and defense industry organizations, information stored on hard disk drives of computer system is often subject to high levels of security and access on a need-to-know basis. Once the hard disk drive has been used to store such information, the hard disk drive must be treated with special care. For example, simply reformatting the hard disk drive does not insure that the stored information is not recoverable. Thus, something more needs to be done to secure the device. One solution to securing a fixed storage device is to physically destroy the storage device such that any data stored thereon is unrecoverable. However, this is an understandably expensive and time consuming solution. Further, the task of transporting storage devices to a destruction facility can itself be a difficult logistical problem. In fact, because of these problems, some organizations actually maintain storage areas simply to hold large numbers of obsolete computer systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for sanitization of fixed storage devices are disclosed that provide advantages over previously developed schemes for securing fixed storage devices.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer system having a fixed storage device interfaced thereto is booted from a removable storage device. The removable storage device holds a bootable disk operating system and program code that is executed within the disk operating system. The fixed storage device is detected. The writeable space of the fixed storage device is then overwritten with a plurality of overwrite layers. Further, a report can be printed listing information about the sanitization process contemporaneously upon the completion of sanitization. In one embodiment, sanitizing is accomplished using a plurality of patterns, each layer having an associated pattern, to ensure that data can not be recovered even by destructive analysis.
A technical advantage of the present invention is that a fixed storage device, such as a hard disk drive, attached to a computer system can be sanitized using a bootable removable storage device, such as a floppy disk, without other modification to the computer system. This allows organizations to easily secure computer systems so that they can be moved within the organization or resold to third parties without concern for sensitive data once stored on the fixed storage device.
Another technical advantage of the present invention is that a printed report can be created contemporaneously upon the completion of the sanitization process to provide information about the process. Further, the report provides a paper trail showing that the sanitization has been performed.
A further technical advantage is that a used fixed storage device, such as a hard disk drive, can be sanitized such that it is returned to its original factory low level format where information previously stored on the fixed storage device is not recoverable.
Additional technical advantages should be readily apparent from the drawings, description, and claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5265159 (1993-11-01), Kung
patent: 5794032 (1998-08-01), Leyda
patent: 5884026 (1999-03-01), Kong
“The Norton Utilities Advanced Edition, Version 4.5”, pp. 1, 208-211, 1988.*
“The Norton Trouble-Shooting Guide For Disks”, pp. 4-7, 1988.*
Guttman, “Secure Deletion of Data From Magnetic and Solid-State Memory,” 6th Usenix Security Symposium Proceedings, Jul. 1996.
Friedman George
Marshall David Earl
Nelson Jay R.
Starek Robert Phillip
Harrison Schnader
Infraworks Corporation
Portka Gary J.
Segal & Lewis LLP
Yoo Do
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for sanitization of fixed storage devices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for sanitization of fixed storage devices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for sanitization of fixed storage devices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2472504