Securely Delete Files on your Computer

here are times when you really want to make sure a file on your computer is deleted and can't be recovered by a PC expert, I am sure I don't have to preach about how it is really important these days to 'securely delete' your files.

Remember your files with any financial records or personal information can of course lead you to being ripped off by a ID fraud type criminal. If such criminals can undelete files on your hard drive and access the content then your security has been badly compromised. Also when you sell a computer, give an old computer to someone or indeed dispose of it, its important to securely delete all your data. There are BOOT CD's like DBAN which can dlete everything from a computers hard disk, however the best mother is to have the physical disk crushed by an expert company

Anyone these days can be a dleted file receovery expert, there are free utilities for windows like "Recuva", which can restore nearly any file that has not been 'securely deleted', thus anyone can be a instant expert with one google search......Dangerous i am sure you will agree.......However secure deletion is pretty easy to use. (Also i would encourage you to use recuva as way of getting files back that have been non securely deleted in error -- see here www.piriform.com/recuv )

What is secure deletion?

A clever professor has worked out a way deleting a file securely from a computers hard disk using a a technique that overwrites the data over 30 times with random bit patterns. see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutmann_method

Also take caution when using these secure delete programs as once the file is SECURELY DELETED its GONE FOR GOOD. No good calling me and asking me to perform some IT magic as the file is REALLY DELETED FOREVER

WINDOWS XP/VISTA/7 USERS

The free windows deletion utility "ERASER" implements this GUTTMAN technique and is the ONLY way of making sure deleted files are REALLY deleted forever on Windows......download and install from the link below and make sure you turn on GUTTMAN deletion from the options.

You can right click on a file and ERASE it securely, you can also do this with the Windows Trashcan, where deleted files are stored for recovery (its the icon like a dustbin on your desktop.

You should note that if you are deleting a lot of files at once it can take a long time, i had to securely delete on a Linux system 16 gig (4 DVD's worth) of data and it took over 24 hours. However for single files and anything under 1 gig ERASER is quick enough.

Website & Download for Eraser

http://eraser.heidi.ie

MAC USERS

For mac users , you need to CAREFULLY follow this guide from Apple on secure deletion

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh475.html

LINUX USERS

To delete from the Linux command line Install the 'secure delete' package from your Linux vendor, this gives you a command line utility "SRM" or in some cases "shred" or "wipe"

To securely delete from the GNOME GUI follow this guide below

http://www.webupd8.org/2009/09/delete-files-securely-in-nautilus-linux.html

To securely delete from the KDE GUI follow this guide below

http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/Secure+Delete+Servicemenu?content=75734

Hope this helps you out in some way.

Linksys & Gentoo

My brand new home mysql server had a hiccup on install, very strange set of circumstances regarding name resolution. I had installed the latest version of Gentoo on a very mediocre specification PC to act as a MYSQL server on home network, really to aid my self education in coding in Python. Everything went well apart from after the install the server stopped resolving names to IP addresses, preventing me from updating the server. I tried all the handbook instructions on editing the /etc/conf.d/net file as otherwise /etc/resolv.conf gets overwritten on each boot, nothing worked, see my files below


tail /etc/conf.d/net
# This blank configuration will automatically use DHCP for any net.*
# scripts in /etc/init.d. To create a more complete configuration,
# please review /etc/conf.d/net.example and save your configuration
# in /etc/conf.d/net (this file :]!).
# dns_domain_eth0="csynet.co.uk"
#dns_servers_eth0="192.168.0.1"
config_eth0=( "192.168.0.10 netmask 255.255.255.0 brd 192.168.0.255" )
routes_eth0=( "default via 192.168.0.1" )
dns_servers_eth0="192.168.0.1"

ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:0d:87:36:d7:c7
inet addr:192.168.0.10 Bcast:192.168.0.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:330 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:157 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:41204 (40.2 KiB) TX bytes:13607 (13.2 KiB)
Interrupt:11 Base address:0xd400

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:45 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:45 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:810 (810.0 B) TX bytes:810 (810.0 B)

tail /etc/resolv.conf
# Generated by net-scripts for interface eth0
nameserver 192.168.0.1

db ~ # ping 192.168.0.1
PING 192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 192.168.0.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=0.773 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=0.758 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=255 time=0.759 ms
^C
--- 192.168.0.1 ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2003ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 0.758/0.763/0.773/0.023 ms
db ~ # ping 195.112.4.14
PING 195.112.4.14 (195.112.4.14) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 195.112.4.14: icmp_seq=1 ttl=53 time=18.8 ms
64 bytes from 195.112.4.14: icmp_seq=2 ttl=53 time=18.6 ms
64 bytes from 195.112.4.14: icmp_seq=3 ttl=53 time=19.1 ms
64 bytes from 195.112.4.14: icmp_seq=4 ttl=53 time=18.5 ms
^C
--- 195.112.4.14 ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 4 received, 0% packet loss, time 3026ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 18.535/18.793/19.110/0.252 ms
db ~ # ping ntp.nildram.co.uk
ping: unknown host ntp.nildram.co.uk

However the forums on the gentoo website provided some bright ideas, like not trusting my Linksys adsl router DNS resolver (192.168.0.1) to work with gentoo. Having changed the DNS to the opendns server the problem was solved. I found this very strange, all my other Linux PC’s at home resolve via the linksys with no issues, even my virtualbox hosts use the same resolver with no issue. If anyone has a sensible answer about why gentoo is different I would appreciate a tip. By the way thanks to those at the gentoo forum users for the smart suggestions.

KeePass Password Safe

KeePass is a free open source password manager, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key file. So you only have to remember one single master password or select the key file to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish) Supports Win-MAC-Linux and even mobile devices like the blackberry.....i use this so i don't have the same password for all the services i currently subscribe to.

Link to the website below
KeePass Password Safe

Power Penguin versus BBC Micro

I have just built a x-86 Gentoo Linux server, I found most satisfying learning exercise, I am using the newly built system to continue to my goal of learning to code in python, to re-kindle my development skills from when I was a 6th former many years ago......things have moved on from when i coded my A-Level Project in BBC basic using Acorn's BBC Micro, the modest specification of the PC i just built dwarfs the spec of the BBC Micro

• The BBC Micro had a 2Mhz CPU and 32k of RAM and a floppy disk drive
• The current Gentoo machine, is modest for a modern PC, AMD Duron @1.3Ghz CPU, 1 Gig of RAM and a 30 Gig + a 200 Gig hard drive(s)

This made me think of the GREAT software that BBC had available at the time, just in terms of games the REVS and ELITE titles provided great entertainment.

Were the coders back then more efficient then their modern counterparts as they were FORCED to be given the hardware available? Interesting question....are modern coders perhaps spoilt given the specs of modern systems....send me your thoughts if you have an interest.

By the way if you are a BBC Micro or ZX spectrum fan of Elite -- try the modern version for Windows/Mac/Linux here with oolite.

Netbook

OK i decided to join the netbook club and buy an ultra portable, i wanted two main features a 10.1 inch screen with pre installed Linux, finding a model with linux is getting harder and harder the Micro$oft world domination team have been working the manufacturers hard of late i think.

I plumped for a Lenovo S10e from ebuyer priced at £210, I was tempted by the lovely Samsung range at £300, however finding a linux enabled model was difficult. As you can see in the picture its a nice well made model and seems a quality build. The SuSE Enterprise 10 desktop operating system integrates well and runs very quickly with the ATOM processor and the 1 gig of RAM. However there are some niggles....

• Wireless Features - To enable bluetooth and WiFi you need to use a Function-f5 key combination and a custom green button to toggle both services, only the indicator LED gives any sign of sucess.
• The keyboard and the SuSE SCIM feature seem to conspire to someimes produce double typing, i am looking into this issue
• The Touchpad is rather over sensitive and you seem to use the scroll function when you don't really want to, that may be due to my clumsy use of course.

Also there are some highlights

• The battery indicator software works 100%, many linux distros struggle with this.
• The integrated audio and webcam work straight of the box as long as you run a SuSe registration program and refresh your software with the latest updates
• also the gnome (www.gnome.org) network manager makes networking and WiFi operation really simple....OK not a lenovo feature but certainly a resaon to get users to adodpt linux more widely.
• SuSE supply a Citrix client straight out of the box with the SLED 10 desktop, if you like me, may have to work remotely this is a great addition.

Whats missing

• A cisco VPN client would be nice
• A simple WiFi on/off switch in the hardware
• A 3g modem as an optional extra would be a price worth paying, however i can use my 3G phone via bluetooth easily enough
• A preconfigured Blackberry sync, again i am preparing a home grown sync using the software provided by SuSE.

Overall a nice purchase, which i am pleased with, this model replaces my apple powerbook 12 inch which frankly had served me well without a hitch since 2004 (i think). I use portable computers for a variety of tasks but the new Atom proceesor has made working on the move a reality at a really low cost entry point, well done to Intel on that front.

Python TV

well I have delved too deep into something and become hooked, its grave confession to make on a blog I know, but I have to admit this addition to the world…..I am addicted to Python…..(www.python.org)

The last time I did any software development it was still called "programming" and I used a BBC Micro to pass my A Levels with flying colours in the mid 80's, if I recall my "Theatre Ticket Booking System" helped reserve seats and using a visual representation of the theatres seating, it helped of course that the theatre in question had 10 rows of 20 seats……

Over the last week I have been using Python to create a simple gui that changes channels on my digital TV card in Linux workstation, this started with me trying top solve an annoyance I had with the local setup of Mplayer which displays the video output from the card……I thought that I could solve this issue while educating myself.

well with the help of an online tutorial and the PyGTK kit for creating GUI's I have the first version up and running, it only does 3 channels via a very simple GUI based on 3 buttons, although more are easy to add, plus it works very nicely and actually switches channels by passing parameters to Mplayer…….it was a lot easier than I expected and now I am hooked on python and the challenge of programming……….sorry software development……

Screen shot - http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/TGeM9S9-Grs7DkQpbUwV0Q?feat=directlink

Formula Fun

is it me or has formula one become entertaining? Last year, apart from a few historically thrilling moments at end of the of the season in Brazil, was only exciting for about a sixth of each race in total, this year with rule changes and the ' credit crisis' withdrawal of Honda and re-birth of Brawn has brought racing back into the F1 fold......So far i have enjoyed every race and not fallen asleep once :-)

Even with the rain shortened race the enjoyment was there from the first to last lap.... Lewis Hamilton has had an awful start along with the whole Ferrari team, however the emergence of brawn has been a breath of fresh air.....maybe Bernie has had someone from another race series leaking him secrets ala Nigel Stepney.....

Swift Direction Change

Change of Directions are a hard thing to deal with, look at formula 1 cars or politicians as an example, F1 teams spend millions perfecting mechanical grip and aerodynamics to change their cars direction, politicians can NEVER change direction once they announce a policy or train of thought. I recently changed my career path after falling victim to the credit crunch, I worked for a very successful futures and options exchange who were forced to let staff go in the dismal economic climate. Once cast into the abyss of the job market I found it very tough to find opportunities however I struck lucky and found similar job at a telecoms company in London within weeks. The culture change, location change and sector change has lead to an interesting transition, I am enjoying my new position, however managing projects can be made into a smooth transition when moving companies as you can stick to tried and trusted methodologies to be successful, utilising standards such as Prince2.

However I have struggled with several aspects of the transition, the new hours, the new processes and procedures and of course learning the way the new people I have met operate. In fact all this change to cope with has resulted in not so much blogging, partaking less in my hobbies like Online Poker and an un-natural interest in Scooters, an item which I could use to reduce my travel hassles, change one aspect of your life and this seems to spurn changes to all the other aspects as well. Things are returning to normal but in the current economic turmoil who knows what change are around the corner.