DEGAUSSING
Degaussing
Demagnetization is the process by which the magnetic charge is eliminated from an object, since the Germans used Gauss as a unit of measure for the intensity of the magnetic field in the triggers of their mines in World War II, Goodeve referred to the various de-magnetization processes with the term degaussing, which became commonplace. Gauss (symbol G) is the unit of measurement of magnetic field B in the electromagnetic CGS system, also referred to as "magnetic flux density" or "magnetic induction".
The principle of storing information on magnetic, hard disks and floppy disks, called magnetic memory, is based on principles relating to the magnetism of matter.
In particular, the information to be stored is stored in the form of magnetized states of matter (direction of magnetization), thus creating a encoding that maps from the abstract logical-intelligible domain of information to observable physical states of matter (binary code). The reading of the data takes place in a dual opposite way starting from the magnetized states and inverting the encoding. To permanently erase all the information thus stored, the manufacturers of modern multimedia devices recommend passing their devices through a 6,000-7,000 Gauss intensity field to make the data unrecoverable.
Article. 5 of Annex A of the Official Gazette provision n. 287 of the Privacy Guarantor of 13/10/08 explicitly provides for the demagnetization (degaussing) of devices such as hard drives.
Unlike the software solutions also provided for by the legislation, demagnetization is ALWAYS effective on HDD and back up tapes, even in the presence of non-functioning products, but which continue to contain easily retrievable confidential information, on which it is not possible to intervene with programs overwrite wiping.
Formatting and eliminating solutions or more creative ways like hammer and drill must be banned because they are not safe!