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Re: [BugTraq] Peter Gutmann data deletion theaory?


From: Richard Clayton <richard () highwayman com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 21:57:15 +0100

In article <20050724001536.GC32500 () paradise net nz>, Volker Kuhlmann
<list0570 () paradise net nz> writes

Unlike DRAM and SRAM, Flash etc. has no continual or repetitive
amplification function.  Traces of previous charges may remain, but I
doubt they would be recoverable, except perhaps by the most drastic
forensic techniques

I would expect flash memory content to be easily recoverable when
opening the chip.

yes indeed !  there's remnants of charge left on the floating gates of
transistors, even after explicit attempts to erase; and they are
relatively straightforward to read out

have a look at Sergei Skorobogatov's research on this topic (and on data
remanence on semiconductors generally)

   http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/sps32/

-- 
richard                                              Richard Clayton

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.         Benjamin Franklin


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