University of Rochester
 


University IT Home

IT Notices

IT Policy

About Us

PMR

Leaders

Contact Us

Recommendation: Computer Disposal - Sensitive Information

 

University computer workstations are used with an increased frequency for the storage and transfer of confidential and potentially sensitive data, such as social security numbers, financial information, medical information, research results, and personnel evaluations. In recognition of that fact, the University Computer and Cathode Ray Tube Disposal policy has recently been revised to include the following:

Any area wishing to dispose of a computer (or other data storage equipment) must ensure that the data has been destroyed in compliance with applicable standards and regulations prior to offering the equipment for disposal.

The disposal of old workstations must be managed so that all of the information once stored there is completely eliminated.  Simple hard disk(s) formats are insufficient, as someone with even a limited amount of technical knowledge can recover that data with the right tools.

University IT recommends that all workstation hard disks be processed by specialized software that destroys the data according to the Department of Defense (DOD) specifications (http://www.defenselink.mil/c3i/org/sio/ia/diap/documents/ASD_HD_Disposition_memo060401.pdf) before they are recycled, given or sold to others.  There is never any guarantee that the data will be completely unrecoverable, but the DOD specifications are quite thorough.

We recommend the following disk cleaning software:

Vendor  

Product  

web site

Communication Technologies (PC)

DiskEraser

www.comtechnologies.com/diskeraser.htm

OnTrack (PC)

DataEraser

www.ontrack.com/dataeraser/

Los Altos Technologies  (PC)

Unishred Pro

www.lat.com/Our_Products.html

AccessData Corporation (PC)

WipeDrive

www.accessdata.com/products.htm

     
Mac OS 10.4 users: Click here to read about how to erase your hard disk using the Mac OS X installation disc.

 

                                                      

                                                               

                             

                                                                                          

                                                   

                                                    

                                                         

                                                                        

 

       

Text | Directory | Index | Contact | Calendar | News | Giving

Last Modified: Tuesday, 09-Sep-2008 16:21:32 EDT