Comments on: Malware preinstalled on new hard drives http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/ Hot info about new scene releases! Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:56:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Phishybongwaters http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-156015 Phishybongwaters Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:05:19 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-156015 "DoD (US) standard I believe is 35 wipes. I cannot remember how many passes though." Not quite. IT's not a simple format, formatting removes the file table entries. The DoD level wipe (which is the same as thed canadian version) is atleast 10 passes, but it's not simply formatting, it's zeroing out the drive. It formats. Fills the entire drive with 1's, formats, does it again. For each pass the drive is formatted and filled. After 5 passes only someone with real skillz and equipment / software can recover your data, after 10 passes it's gone as every spot on the drive has been wiped / filled 10 times. The one we occasionally use here is called "DSX" and is used by the RCMP. Extremely slow of the highest (DoD) standard but if you are paranoid completely safe. Are drives shipping already formatted and partitioned now? The last 4 external drives I purchased (320g, 2x500g, 200g) were all blank drives that needed to be partitioned right off the bat. “DoD (US) standard I believe is 35 wipes. I cannot remember how many passes though.”

Not quite. IT’s not a simple format, formatting removes the file table entries. The DoD level wipe (which is the same as thed canadian version) is atleast 10 passes, but it’s not simply formatting, it’s zeroing out the drive.

It formats. Fills the entire drive with 1’s, formats, does it again. For each pass the drive is formatted and filled.

After 5 passes only someone with real skillz and equipment / software can recover your data, after 10 passes it’s gone as every spot on the drive has been wiped / filled 10 times.

The one we occasionally use here is called “DSX” and is used by the RCMP. Extremely slow of the highest (DoD) standard but if you are paranoid completely safe.

Are drives shipping already formatted and partitioned now? The last 4 external drives I purchased (320g, 2×500g, 200g) were all blank drives that needed to be partitioned right off the bat.

]]> By: smart101 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154832 smart101 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:22:16 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154832 Fomating is useless Fomating is useless

]]> By: smart101 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154828 smart101 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:19:56 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154828 Fomating is unless,once the computer recognizes the drive, the virus has already installed. Your computer must recognize your drive before you can format it, don't you ? Fomating is unless,once the computer recognizes the drive, the virus has already installed.
Your computer must recognize your drive before you can format it, don’t you ?

]]> By: Cidman http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154508 Cidman Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:19:37 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154508 sounds like a conspiracy theory to me... the fact that it wasn't reported anywhere else also rings alarm bells finally, there are actually no sources quoted or referenced other than the ministry of justice... not a tech company or a information gathering agency like the CIA or FBI, but more like your local police enforcement ring it sounds like either over-zealous local enforcers, conspiracy theorists, or a mix of the two... of course, its possible that it's true... but then, its also possible that the US gov't is using satellites to read people's minds and the only way to stop them is to wear tinfoil hats... sounds like a conspiracy theory to me…
the fact that it wasn’t reported anywhere else also rings alarm bells
finally, there are actually no sources quoted or referenced other than the ministry of justice… not a tech company or a information gathering agency like the CIA or FBI, but more like your local police enforcement ring

it sounds like either over-zealous local enforcers, conspiracy theorists, or a mix of the two…

of course, its possible that it’s true… but then, its also possible that the US gov’t is using satellites to read people’s minds and the only way to stop them is to wear tinfoil hats…

]]> By: andy http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154489 andy Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:05:32 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154489 If it's alright for the yanks to do I don't see a problem with China doing it. China for the world superpower, you never know - they may be eying out the terrorist nation of Kazakhstan *lol* If it’s alright for the yanks to do I don’t see a problem with China doing it.

China for the world superpower, you never know – they may be eying out the terrorist nation of Kazakhstan *lol*

]]> By: LeetHax0r http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154455 LeetHax0r Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:23:47 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154455 With today's hard drives it's so easy leave some data hidden (about 1-10Gb) and accessible only by the firmware, then a trojan could store sensitive data to "later appreciation". And no format or wipe will erase such data... With today’s hard drives it’s so easy leave some data hidden (about 1-10Gb) and accessible only by the firmware, then a trojan could store sensitive data to “later appreciation”.

And no format or wipe will erase such data…

]]> By: nus http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154415 nus Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:44:54 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154415 the usa is tracking every move of their citizens, taking away their rights, putting them in jail for downloading pron etc and you guys worry about some malware on a chinese harddisk? LOOOL!, fools. look at your own fascist government first, then point fingers after you have solved your problem. the usa is tracking every move of their citizens, taking away their rights, putting them in jail for downloading pron etc and you guys worry about some malware on a chinese harddisk? LOOOL!, fools. look at your own fascist government first, then point fingers after you have solved your problem.

]]> By: Rekrul http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154390 Rekrul Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:23:17 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154390 About the myth that data can still be read off a hard drive unless it's been overwritten 20+ times; Yes, scientists working in high-tech labs using ridiculously expensive equipment have had some success at detecting magnetic patterns of data that has been overwritten, but such things are well outside the means of the average hacker. It is also impossible for a standard hard drive to retreive data that has been overwritten even ONCE. If you don't believe me, contact any professional data recovery service and tell them that you accidentally zero-filled the entire drive. Make sure that you tell them that the data was only overwritten ONCE. Ask them how much it will cost to recover the data from such a drive. They'll tell you that it can't be done. Why would they turn down the opportunity to charge people obscene amounts of money for recovering the data, unless it can't be done outside of the CIA? And if normal hard drives were capable of reading data that had been overwritten even once, don't you think that hard drive companies would be using this ability to make drives that could store twice as much? It's true that there might be some data on the drive that a format will miss, however that same data would likely be missed by one of those "secure erase" programs. Once data has been overwritten a single time, for all intents and purposes, it's GONE. About the myth that data can still be read off a hard drive unless it’s been overwritten 20+ times;

Yes, scientists working in high-tech labs using ridiculously expensive equipment have had some success at detecting magnetic patterns of data that has been overwritten, but such things are well outside the means of the average hacker. It is also impossible for a standard hard drive to retreive data that has been overwritten even ONCE.

If you don’t believe me, contact any professional data recovery service and tell them that you accidentally zero-filled the entire drive. Make sure that you tell them that the data was only overwritten ONCE. Ask them how much it will cost to recover the data from such a drive. They’ll tell you that it can’t be done. Why would they turn down the opportunity to charge people obscene amounts of money for recovering the data, unless it can’t be done outside of the CIA?

And if normal hard drives were capable of reading data that had been overwritten even once, don’t you think that hard drive companies would be using this ability to make drives that could store twice as much?

It’s true that there might be some data on the drive that a format will miss, however that same data would likely be missed by one of those “secure erase” programs. Once data has been overwritten a single time, for all intents and purposes, it’s GONE.

]]> By: America the ugly http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154364 America the ugly Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:59:35 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154364 all this talk bout chinese makin me hungry. mmmmmm kun pao chickennn....aaaaaaahhhhgggggggg! all this talk bout chinese makin me hungry. mmmmmm kun pao chickennn….aaaaaaahhhhgggggggg!

]]> By: Karen http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154360 Karen Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:55:25 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154360 Reuters reported that it was a Seagate disk discovered in Taiwan, but the truth is, the Maxtor Basics 3200 (aka PS 3200) is available all over the world, and the infected lot made its way to many regions including China, Russia and the Middle East. Our source confirmed that the problem was discovered internally almost two months ago, and only boiled over last week when the Taiwanese government got mad at China. Reuters reported that it was a Seagate disk discovered in Taiwan, but the truth is, the Maxtor Basics 3200 (aka PS 3200) is available all over the world, and the infected lot made its way to many regions including China, Russia and the Middle East. Our source confirmed that the problem was discovered internally almost two months ago, and only boiled over last week when the Taiwanese government got mad at China.

]]> By: robespierre http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154354 robespierre Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:51:59 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154354 @37 me hey you--taiwan hosted the fleeing corrupted chinese gouvernement overthrow by the revolution,,would be like cuba,welcoming the confederate army after they loss,,,a situation created by the u.s policies at that time,so a problem created by them. plus the local original people and the japanese immigrants from when it was formosa @37 me

hey you–taiwan hosted the fleeing corrupted chinese gouvernement overthrow
by the revolution,,would be like cuba,welcoming the confederate army after
they loss,,,a situation created by the u.s policies at that time,so a problem
created by them.

plus the local original people and the japanese immigrants from when it was formosa

]]> By: Sun Wu http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154351 Sun Wu Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:48:44 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154351 Most businesses are purchasing larger hard drives, so by passing on this data back to Beijing, or your competition, your getting access to new innovation, secrets and policies, not just movies, or mp3 files as some seem to only think. Getting access to networks is big business. It's foolish to assume, that a large hard drive wouldn't be used by the government or corporate employee. As for China, you had better read Sunzi, the art of war. Most businesses are purchasing larger hard drives, so by passing on this data back to Beijing, or your competition, your getting access to new innovation, secrets and policies, not just movies, or mp3 files as some seem to only think.

Getting access to networks is big business. It’s foolish to assume, that a large hard drive wouldn’t be used by the government or corporate employee.

As for China, you had better read Sunzi, the art of war.

]]> By: Paul Ferguson http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154348 Paul Ferguson Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:42:04 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154348 Even if you overwrite all “free space” 7 times you can still leave megabytes of data on a drive. Disk drives contain a number of areas where data can hide from overwriting, including Host protected areas, Drive configuration overlays, and Re-mapped bad blocks. Even if you overwrite all “free space” 7 times you can still leave megabytes of data on a drive.

Disk drives contain a number of areas where data can hide from overwriting, including Host protected areas, Drive configuration overlays, and Re-mapped bad blocks.

]]> By: me http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154347 me Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:41:27 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154347 You guys really think the Chinese care about your measly lives? Tawain wants their independance China doesnt. China has missles aimed at them if they were to talk about seperation again they would rather wipe them out of the Pacific. You guys must really think your important to think they care about what movies your watching. LOL You guys really think the Chinese care about your measly lives? Tawain wants their independance China doesnt. China has missles aimed at them if they were to talk about seperation again they would rather wipe them out of the Pacific.

You guys must really think your important to think they care about what movies your watching. LOL

]]> By: Windows Available http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/comment-page-1/#comment-154335 Windows Available Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:29:26 +0000 http://www.rlslog.net/malware-preinstalled-on-new-hard-drives/#comment-154335 UK’s Serious Organized Crime Agency Demonstrates “Frightening Windows XP Hack” to Microsoft http://www.news.com/Microsoft-exec-calls-XP-hack-frightening/2100-7349_3-6218238.html?tag=cd.lede UK’s Serious Organized Crime Agency Demonstrates “Frightening Windows XP Hack” to Microsoft

http://www.news.com/Microsoft-exec-calls-XP-hack-frightening/2100-7349_3-6218238.html?tag=cd.lede

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