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Interrupted Secure Erase Process Cause Data Loss In Mac Os X 10.4 Tiger

Author: allen

Mac OS X enables you to protect your significant files using FileVault to prevent unauthorized access. When you apply the FileVault protection for any user account in the Security Preferences, your whole home directory gets converted into encrypted disk image. In Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, you can also safely remove data from hard drive using the FileVault tool. However, sometimes you may lose your precious data if the secure erase process is interrupted. Such circumstances create the need of Mac Recovery, if an updated backup is not in place.

You can securely erase your confidential data if FileVault protection is on by clicking "Use secure erase" check box when "You are now ready to turn on FileVault protection" dialog box is displayed. If you choose this option, don't interrupt secure erase process, even if you see "Unmounting FileVault" for long time.

What is Secure Erase Process of FileVault?

After clicking "Turn On FileVault" with "Use secure erase" option, you are logged out of the account and FileVault windows appears. A status message indicates you how much time the encryption process will take. After completion of encryption process, secure erase begins, but it does not show any status message. It shows "Unmounting FileVault" message. This process erases all the files and they are removed after being copied to encrypted image of FileVault.

What Happens If you Interrupt the Secure Erase Process?

•    You cannot log into your Mac OS X account, for which you enabled the FileVault protection.

•    All the files in your Home directory, including the items that are on your Mac desktop, in Documents, Pictures, Music, Movies folders, Mail messages, application settings, and your bookmarks, may be lost. These items cannot be accessed even if you you log in using a different account.

Creating a backup copy of critical files or whole home directory, before applying FileVault protection, is a good idea to prevent data loss situations.

However, if the backup is not available, Data Recovery Mac is the way to get your valuable data recovered. You can successfully recover all types of lost files using Mac file Recovery Software. The applications are particularly designed to carry out in-depth scan of entire Mac hard drive and extract all lost data from it. They enable you to perform safe and easy Mac Data Recovery.

Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery recovers lost data from Mac hard drives, USB drives, FireWire drives, and memory cards. It is designed for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, 10.5 Leopard, 10.4 Tiger, and 10.3.9 Panther. The software recovers data from HFS, HFS+, HFSX, HFS Wrapper, and FAT file system volumes.

Article Source: http://allen.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/interrupted-secure-erase-process-cause-data-loss-in-mac-os-x-104-tiger-2018447.html

About the Author

Allen Sood student of Mass Communication doing research on Recover mac data And  Mac Data recovery. He is also a freelancer for http://www.macintosh-data-recovery.com/

How to securely erase data form your Mac

Author: Craig Katz

How to ensure that your confidential data is securely erased from your Mac? It is not good enough to just delete files and empty trash folder. When you delete a file in your Mac hard drive, only the file reference deleted. The file remains intact on the drive. You will not be able to find a deleted file using Finder, because Mac OS X cannot locate and access the deleted file since file's reference is missing. For extremely sensitive data, you need to use tools that will ensure, beyond any doubt, that your data has been completely erased and is beyond any possible hope of recovery.

How To Permanently Shred Mac Files?

The only way to ensure that your file can never be recovered again is to shred the file. File shredder Mac does not refer to tearing up your file into tiny pieces, though that is the metaphoric reference we are using here. File shredder Mac refers to overwriting the traces of your deleted file, or your entire hard drive, repeatedly until no trace of the original data remains.

Note that before you shred your files, you must be very sure that you will not need any of that data ever again.

Shred Selected Files Using Secure Empty Trash Option

If you want to permanently erase selected files, use the Secure Empty Trash option. To do this:

  1. Move the files you want to permanently erase on your computer to the Trash.
  2. From the Finder menu, click Secure Empty Trash.
  3. Click OK if you want to continue with the deletion(s). This method erases all your data.

Data that has been shred using this method is not easily recoverable, and if recovered, only delivers a lot of garbage. However, there are some truly sophisticated and therefore frighteningly expensive tools out there that can retrieve data that has been wiped out using the Secure Empty Trash method.

It is best to follow up this method with a permanent eraser action, which might be a little time-consuming, but worthwhile.

Using Mac OS X Disk Utility To Shred Files Mac

To completely erase a Macintosh hard drive that runs OS X 10.3.x or above (not just individual files, but the whole drive) use the Disk Utility that is built into the Macintosh operating system.

Note: Erasing a hard drive deletes all the volumes and files on the drive. Therefore, before you erase the hard drive, if you want to keep files on the drive, copy them to a form of external media.

To permanently shred files in your Mac OSX:

  1. Reboot your computer using the OS X system CD that came with your Mac, as follows:
    1. Insert the CD into the CD drive.
    2. Hold down the C key during the startup process.
  2. Select your preferred language; you will see the Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window.
  3. From the Installer Menu Bar, click Open Disk Utility. The Disk Utility window opens.
  4. From the left pane of the Disk Utility window, select the drive you want to erase.
  5. In the right pane of the Disk Utility window, open the Erase tab.
  6. From the Volume Format drop-down menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
  7. In the Name field, highlight the existing text and type the name you want to call the hard drive after it is formatted.
  8. In the Erase tab, select one of the following security options:
  • Do not Erase Data: This option only rewrites the headers on the disk and is NOT secure. Note that your files can be recovered by forensics, disk utilities, and other advanced recovery software.
  • Zero Out Data: This option is secure for most commercial use.Note that data can still be recovered by sophisticatedforensics utilities. There is no documented evidence to this fact, however.
  • 7-Pass Erase: This option is considered secure enough, going by Government standards. It writes random data over the disk seven times, taking several hours to complete the process.
  • 35-Pass Erase: This is the most secure option available on your Mac to shred data permanently. Using this option ensures that it is absolutely impossible to regain any data off the drive. This option takes an extremely long time, possibly more than one day.
  1. Click the radio button in front of 7-Pass Erase
  2. Click OK.
  3. Click Erase.

Confirm your action; the program will unmount the volume, partition the drive, and rename the volume to the name you provided. Once this is done, leave the machine to do its work. Do not close the lid of your laptop.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/how-to-securely-erase-data-form-your-mac-3234461.html

About the Author

Craig is an expert software development writer. His current area of specialism is special data deletion software with an emphasis on how to clean a mac.

 

If your laptop was stolen is your private information secure?

Author: al fillmore

If you have private data on your computer that you really don't want anyone poking around at then you better start using encryption. With free open source software you can create an encrypted zone or even encrypt a whole hard drive.

Using True Crypt you can secure your data with the latest cypher, it's fairly easy to use if you have basic computer knowlege and skills. This is the only way to protect yourself!

The quickest and easiest is the create encrypted file container, with a few clicks you can create a file that stores all your documents or pictures that can only be accessed with the correct password and or keyfile.

If you don't want to bother accessing an encrypted file you can encrypt the whole hard drive. Once the drive is encrypted all you have to do is input the password on boot up and you are in, all data is secure, you can go about you business same as always and relieved to know that nobody can easily get at your private information. If you are going to do the whole drive be aware that you will need a fairly new computer with good performance because the encryption/decryption process is "on the fly" so it will degrade your computer's performance a little. That's an ok tradeoff in my mind.

Keep in mind encryption can be hacked so yours is only as secure as the password you choose, make sure you use a long password with as many characters as you can remember and try not to use common words like "user". Do not forget the password! If you forget the password all may be lost so be very careful.

 

 

 

 

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/if-your-laptop-was-stolen-is-your-private-information-secure-4295422.html

About the Author

Al Fillmore is a certified computer specialist in St Thomas, ontario, he owns and operates http://fillmorecomputers.com that does London computer repair services. Al has been helping people with computer problems for 12 years now.

How To Make Your USB Drive Secure With Software

Author: Trevor Johnson

Data on your USB drive is probably less secure than anything else connected with your computer. USB drives are small, which is great news until you put one down somewhere safe and then try to find it again. Anyone could have picked up your flash drive, so using USB drive secure software should be high up on your list. Before disaster strikes!

There are lots of different USB drive secure software programs available. So knowing where to start is essential otherwise you'll be forever choosing rather than just dithering and ending up doing nothing. With the result that when (not if) your USB drive gets lost, your data is available to all and sundry.

There are a number of free USB security programs available but several of these were written a while ago and don't necessarily cope with modern USB drive sizes. The size of flash drives has grown exponentially over recent years and is sufficiently big that older software hadn't even dreamed of the storage capabilities and just gives up rather than protects your pen drive. Not exactly what you need to happen.

Your checklist for the software you choose to make your USB drive secure should include the following:

  • Easy to use - you don't want to learn how to use the software every time
  • Unlimited licence - some software manufacturers can restrict the number of machines you install the software on, make sure this doesn't happen to you
  • Good support - in the unlikely event that you have to contact someone, you want them to get back to you with a helpful answer, fast
  • Military grade encryption - the encryption needs to be good so that your data is safe if your USB drive gets stolen

Once you've checked that the software to make your USB drive secure meets those requirements, it's time to make the purchase.

And - even more important - to actually install the software!

I know you're more organized than most people otherwise you wouldn't be investigating how to make your USB drive secure but it's still important to run the USB protection software so that your drives are protected.

Whilst instant downloads are convenient, it's easy to forget that you've downloaded a file and leave it sitting neglected on your hard drive.

So make it a habit to run the program on every new flash drive as soon as you take it out of the packaging. That way you'll be safe in the knowledge that your USB drive is secure.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/how-to-make-your-usb-drive-secure-with-software-4670286.html

About the Author

Find out more about making your USB drive secure with flash USB security.

The Benefits of Automatic Files Backup and Secure Offsite Data Files Storage

Author: Business Local Listings

Do you really need automatic files backup and secure offsite data files storage? Are these not mere add on costs that you can do without? What benefits can you get out of investing in automatic files backup and secure offsite data files storage? Allow this write up to enlighten you.

Practically everyone makes some effort to create backups of important files. These are usually printed out and hard copies are kept on file. Digital copies are also often made and stored in separate media such as CDs or an external hard drive. This is done to protect valuable data since having one file on the computer makes it vulnerable to human error, software failure or equipment malfunction.

Making backups can be tedious work, though. When one is busy, this is sometimes neglected. That will be most unfortunate if it happens just prior to a computer crash. There are also cases when backups are made but not updated with the latest inputs. Backups are also often stored in the same physical office as the computer source, however. Hence, these files are also still vulnerable to theft, fire or water damage.

Automatic files backup makes having a backup more convenient and foolproof. You can find a professional system with specialized software that makes the backup process automated and regular. The software can be installed in a number of personal computers, laptops, work stations or even servers. You are given the capability of choosing exactly what files are to be backed up. You set the precise schedule for the backup process. It is highly recommended that this be done at least once a day, and that it be set at the end of each work period. This will ensure that all new data is included in the updated backup and each new work period begins with a completely updated backup available when necessary.

A good professional automatic files backup should come bundled with secure offsite data files storage. This means that in the backup process, your files are automatically sent to a totally secure remote location using an equally totally secure online file transfer with HIPAA compliant 128-bit encryption.

The offsite data files storage makes sure your remote data will not be corrupted by any mishap in your physical location. Make sure that the offsite data files storage center is in a disaster proof facility serviced by heavy duty generators for continuous connection and availability, protected by biometric locks and watched over by professional security guards 24 hours a day even on holidays. It should have the highest levels of confidentiality, privacy protection and security in order to be HIPAA compliant.

Having an internet connection is definitely a requirement for automatic files backup and secure offsite data files storage. Even with a slow connection, it can work. Of course, the initial backup may take longer than usual since the entire bulk of files have to be uploaded. Subsequent updates will be much faster, though.

Even after your data has been saved in offsite data files storage, you can still have instant access to them at any time through any internet connection as long as you have your secure password. You can view them and erase any files you wish to delete.

Offsite data files storage comes at a price, though, and that usually depends on file size. This is where selective file backups should come in handy. You should prioritize your most important files for backup in order to conserve offsite data files storage space. In case you really come to need more space, though, you can make arrangements with your service provider for additional costs.

Now you know why you not only need automatic files backup and secure offsite data files storage, but you also need to ensure that they are HIPAA compliant for total privacy and protection.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/the-benefits-of-automatic-files-backup-and-secure-offsite-data-files-storage-1445459.html

About the Author

Accurate Data Storage Inc
1230 S Andrews Ave, Unit 2
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1836
Phone: (954) 763-5040
Email: info@accuratedatastorage.com
Website: www.accuratedatastorage.com

Describing How to Manage Outlook Data File Size Securely

Author: D larson

Outlook Data File Too Large: MS Office Outlook application is one of most the dynamically used email clients around. Usually, Outlook processes numerous incoming and outgoing emails as many of you tend to use this application over a long period of time by being associated for a long time with a particular organization that has Outlook email environment. Since the Outlook storage files (.PST) are bounded to the specific 2 GB file size in Outlook 2002/XP and older versions, so you need to give special attention towards maintaining the file size and preventing it from exceeding the 2 GB mark, which otherwise leads to corruption. Outlook data file too big is only a thing of problem and nothing else. Here we describe how to manage data files securely.



Describing Some Ways to Manage Outlook Data File Size:

•    Delete Undesired Stuff: Even when you ne delete Outlook file items, you will see that there is no considerable change in your PST file size. This is because PST is actually a database, where once some space is allocated to an item; it cannot be freed up until the file is compacted. So, you must empty the 'Deleted Items' folder first and then compact the file later. This will reduce PST file size.

•    Compact Outlook PST File: Outlook actually compacts the PST in the background; however, for forcing the compaction, you can proceed in the below mentioned stepwise way for Outlook data file compact process:
o    First, click ‘File'
o    Then, click ‘Data File Management'
o    Select the target data file
o    Click 'Settings'
o    Click 'Compact Now'

•    Archive PST File Items: You can archive old and not urgently required email items to the archive folder, where the data is stored for future reference, in the below mentioned process:
o    First, select 'File'
o    Then, click 'Data File Management'
o    Now, click 'Add'
o    After that, click 'Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst)' for creating a new personal folder
o    Now, click 'OK'
o    Specify a file name
o    Move the desired emails to new PST

•    Split Large PST File: You can create several smaller sized PST files out of a single large sized PST file. This will help in reducing the PST file size considerably and will help you with better Outlook data file management. Microsoft Outlook data file management becomes very easy once the PST file size reduces. One such PST split tool to manage Outlook data files by splitting PST is PCVITA Split Magic tool. This Split PST software can be used for Outlook 2010 manage data files process and even for Outlook 2007 manage data files process as the software is compatible with almost all Outlook versions.

http://www.splitpstfile.org/

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/describing-how-to-manage-outlook-data-file-size-securely-3650265.html

About the Author

Being employed as the content head with the PCVITA Group, D Larson excellence is what paying her off and is what making her enjoy the seniority at the company. He has written articles for all PCVITA products (SharePoint Migration, PST Magic, PST to EML conversion etc) including the Split Magic software, which is a product used for Outlook data file management.

How to erase data completely from your hard disk

Author: Aparna

We can understand the importance of data recovery; after all it is about recovering our lost data which are important and crucial. But what can be the merit in erasing data from hard disk? We had spent a lot of time in storing it in the computer! Well, to get answer to this question, consider the following scenarios:

  • You are thinking of buying a brand new computer, because you are bored with the old one, but as the old one is in working condition, you want to either sell it or donate it.
  • Your hard disk has become corrupted somehow, so you want to clean it in order to reinstall the operating system on it.
  • Your hard disk is physically damaged, so you are thinking of disposing it.
  • In order to prevent identity theft, you are deleting financial and personal information 'on the go', so that it cannot be retrieved by crackers and identity theft malware.
  • You have ex clients, patients or customers who do not want their confidential data to be on your computer any longer.

The main point in all the scenarios given above is to remove data from your hard disk and in a way that it should be impossible to retrieve it so that no one with a malicious intention can access it.

Many people do not care about the importance of erasing data completely. They think that if they delete item by pressing shift + delete button on their computer, it will get deleted permanently from their system.

Well, this is not the case. Delete or Shift + delete function in an operating system merely hides the presence of an item on the computer. The item remains on the hard disk with a new name as long as the space acquired by it is not needed by the operating system for reuse. Even then, you can not guarantee that the data is gone forever because efficient data recovery software will retrieve this data very easily.

So if you are serious about inaccessibility of your erased data, you will need something more than Delete or Shift + delete function. Select an efficient data erasing tool to ensure complete removal of data from your hard disk. Only a data erasing software of standard can guarantee that the data is erased beyond recovery. There are tools that can give you selective erasing of data; that is you can delete selected such as individual files or documents from your hard disk drive.

To read more about this topic, please visit, Recoveryknowledgebase.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/how-to-erase-data-completely-from-your-hard-disk-4558052.html

About the Author

working as a technical writer in a software development company.

Erase Hard Drive Data: Wipe Your Disk

Author: maria

Want to start your life with new things, for that you have bought new TV, Phone, Refrigerator etc and also a new computer. You decided to give your old computer to either any needy person or donate it to charity. If you have decided to do so then think about your hard drive data. Make sure that it is no longer in your hard drive. For that what will you do, I think your answer will be “delete all file then it will no longer in hard disk”. Right wrong! Absolutely wrong. Deleting any file doesn’t ensure you that file doesn’t exit. It is still in the hard disk. What happened that only the link between the hard disk and file broken down and you can overwrite on those areas where pervious files exit. Then another answer will be “formatting”. Formatting is not enough security of your hard drive data. It is bit more secure then simply erasing the files. Formatting a disk does not erase the data on the disk, only the address tables. It makes it much more difficult to recover the files. But the computer professional can take out these data. If you're preparing a system for retirement to charity or any other organization, this obviously makes you more vulnerable to data theft. Formatting is not just 100% secure method for saving your data. Now erase hard drive data.

More secure way then formatting is disk wipe. The term disk wiping is not only used in reference to hard drives but any storage device such as CDs, RAIDs, thumb drives and others. Disk wiping is a secure method of ensuring that data, including company and individually licensed software on your computer and storage devices is irrecoverably deleted before recycling or donating the equipment. The disk wiping process will actually overwrite your entire hard drive with data, several times. Once you format you'll find it all but impossible to retrieve the data which was on the drive before the overwrite.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/erase-hard-drive-data-wipe-your-disk-575656.html

About the Author

maria is good writer on finance topic

Hipaa Compliant Secure Offsite Data Files Storage And Automatic Remote Data Files Backup Can Save Your Business

Author: Business Local Listings

Just imagine what would happen if you lose all your valuable digital business data files. Your business could go under. You should not allow your company and your clients to be vulnerable to such a risk. You can actually save your business proactively by using HIPAA compliant secure offsite data files storage and automatic remote data files backup.

Your business should never be treated like a mere hobby. In like manner, your digital business data files should never be treated just like ordinary home digital files. The most common way of backing up home digital files is by making a backup in the same personal computer, making a backup in another computer or notebook, making a backup on a CD or DVD disk, or printing out a hard copy that is filed in a folder somewhere. All these are done manually. All these are also not enough to protect you from digital data loss.

First of all, manual files backup is a tedious process especially when you have a lot of files to back up. It can take a lot of time and effort. People assigned to do it may also forget to do it regularly. It is, therefore, vulnerable to human error. Furthermore, the backup files are not totally secure. The backup in the same computer is useless if the hard drive crashes or if the computer gets attacked by a virus. The backup in a separate computer may fall prey to the same danger. If placed in a laptop, notebook or netbook, it is vulnerable to theft, as well. Even if placed in a CD or DVD or is printed out, the disk or printout is most probably strored in the same site as the source computer. In case of fire, water damage or any natural or man made disaster, therefore, the backup will be destroyed along with the original files.

To avoid all the pitfalls of manual files backup for your digital business data files, you should avail of the highest possible protection from HIPAA compliant secure offsite data files storage and automatic remote data files backup. Its special software can very easily be installed in your company servers, company work stations, personal computers, laptops and notebooks. All your files can then be backed up in an automatic error-free process. Each of your users can specify exactly which files are to be backed up automatically, how frequent the backup is done and when it is done. The minimum frequency recommended is once a day and the best time for this would be after the regular working hours.

When backing up your digital business data files, the software sends the data online through a secure 128-bit encryption file transfer to an equally secure remote location offsite. Both of these are completely HIPAA compliant in security and privacy features. The remote data storage center is constructed to resist both natural and man made disasters. It is provided with uninterrupted power supply by heavy duty generators with adequate backups, equipped with biometric locks and protected by professional security personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The package you choose will determine the amount of data you can send to the remote data storage center. This can easily be upgraded depending on your business needs. You can gain access to your stored digital business data files any time, day or night, from any location around the world that has an internet connection. All you need is your secure password.

HIPAA compliant secure offsite data files storage and automatic remote data files backup can save your business if you allow it to. Take advantage of its complete digital data protection capabilities. In this technologically advanced age, your business cannot afford to do without it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/hipaa-compliant-secure-offsite-data-files-storage-and-automatic-remote-data-files-backup-can-save-your-business-1830902.html

About the Author

Accurate Data Storage Inc

1230 S Andrews Ave, Unit 2

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1836

Phone: (954) 763-5040

Email: info@accuratedatastorage.com

Website: www.accuratedatastorage.com

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