Re: How to zero a failing disk drive before disposal?

On Fri, 2024-10-11 at 00:44 -0700, Ronald F. Guilmette wrote:
> > It is not for nothing that it is said that you should mount a drive
> > "read only" as soon as possible after data has been lost in order to
> > have any chance of recovering anything at all.
> 
> Fortunately, I had the Good Sense to have multiple recent backups, so
> I don't believe I lost anything.

I just wanted to say that on the one hand we rightly fear data loss and
therefore make backups instead of relying on the fact that one time
overwritten data possibly can be restored, because it's basically not
possible, at least not without a lab with glowing green liquids,
flashing Tesla coils and stuff like that and on the other hand, we
believe that data that has only been overwritten once can be recovered
by any petty criminal who can wear a black hoodie and is able to sit on
a chair in front of a keyboard, without equipment such as glowing green
liquids, flashing Tesla coils. Data that has been overwritten even once
is gone, to be able to read it you need at least the right Torx[tm]
screwdriver, wearing a hoodie and being able to sit on a chair is no
longer enough.