Microsoft Offers New Data-Security Scheme

bingly_beep writes "The BBC is reporting Microsoft's new user security measure, whereby users sensitive information is stored on their PC rather then online, as in their previous offerings, such as Passport. This sounds like a good idea, but any such system would surely require that the user definitely erases the HD on any machine they sell. Perhaps Microsoft should include an option, like 'Prepare this computer for resale,' which utterly destroys all data."

Comments

In future headlines...

[Caspian]

Pimp offers new "disease-free guarantee".

Windows already has such a feature...

[Anonymous Coward]

Doesn't installing windows automatically come with built in features that "destroy all data"?

The problem with the feature right now is that it happens when you least expect it, rather than when you'd actually want it to occur.

Re:Windows already has such a feature...

[The Bungi]

Yes. It's called "Knoppix".

Ready for sale

[Mononoke]

Perhaps Microsoft should include an option, like 'Prepare this computer for resale,' which utterly destroys all data.

I think they called that Windows 3.1

rather then

[ezzzD55J]

rather THAN

rather THAN damnit

please continue

Oh Please

[finkployd]

This sounds like a good idea, but any such system would surely require that the user definitely erases the HD on any machine they sell.

Yes, because today it is perfectly ok to sell a system without erasing the hard drive. I mean for real, who stores private or important data on a computer?

Finkployd

Prepare for resale?

[Bingo Foo]

Their idea of a secure "prepare for resale" function would probably erase the whole OS and all other Microsoft products (like Office), so that they would need to be purchased again.

Prepare Computer For Resale

[topgeek]

I like the idea of a button with this function. But at the same time, it should back-up my Outlook addresses, save my bookmarks, transfer my MP3s to my file server, and then post my used computer listing on eBay.

"Prepare computer for resale"

[Bifurcati]

Microsoft Windows is preparing your computer for resale. Please insert your Red Hat Linux CD now.

Resale?

[Racter]

Perhaps Microsoft should include an option, like 'Prepare this computer for resale,' which utterly destroys all data."

Or, as we like to call it, 'Prepare this computer for confiscation.'

Faster yet

[ari_j]

I use a .308 Win. 2500fps beats your solution and guarantees every sector you hit will be unreadable.

Re:Faster yet

[slazar]

2500 fps!?! That's Unreal®!

Re:Hard Drive Forensics

[AtariAmarok]

"Keeping the disk, pulverizing it completely, or throwing it into Mount Doom would seem to be the most reliable methods of ensuring security"

Frodo tosses hard disk into volcano. Not very far away, a tower in Redmond crumbles as a giant bespectacled eye glaces around in terror. Outside the Gates of mordor, a troll-like figure is about to stomp on the penguin's head. When the hard drive melts, Ballmer lifts his mishapen head, takes his foot off the penguin, and shambles confusedly into the night.

Re:Aw hell...

[sokoban]

...installing windows takes care of that pretty well already.

Data loss?

[mageofchrisz]

Perhaps Microsoft should include an option, like 'Prepare this computer for resale,' which utterly destroys all data.

Start > Run > explorer

Consider data loss guaranteed

Only disks - Attack of the clueless accountant

[dbIII]

I once watched a clueless accountant completely trash a not paticularly old server with a hammer in case financially sensitive information could be gleaned from its CPU, RAM, side panels, keyboard, monitor ot terminals. In hindsight, the stuff on the disks would probably be found interesting in a crimianl court, so not understanding how computers work he was destroying everything he thought could potentially be evidence.

Either that, or he really hated the thing and wanted to destroy it, or hated the techno geeks that wanted to take it home.