[freegeek-startup] Wiping hard drives, facilities

[fox7777 at carlsonco.net]

Hi Iain:

At FreeGeek Tacoma, http://www.FreeGeekTacoma.org , we have been using Boot and Nuke, http://dban.sourceforge.net/ , on a CD to erase hard drives which has qworked well. Also see the bottom of http://www.freegeek.org/recycle.php .

In Tacoma we are still struggling with obtaining a facility to operate out of with a positive cash flow. What are you using for a building to operate out of?

Earlier I had mentioned a FreeGeek of Washington to coordinate all the FreeGeeks in Washington State as follows: 
Getting the space to operate out of and achieving a positive cash flow with a mostly volunteer labor force is a huge obstacle for new FreeGeek wannabees. It seems like the advantage of being in a larger organization such as FreeGeek would be assistance from the larger organization in overcoming these obstacles, getting an IRS 501(c)(3) designation and then guidance in staying on the right course. Tacoma, http://www.FreeGeekTacoma.org , Olympia 1, http://mwiki.greenputer.net/index.php/Main_Page and Olympia 2, http://www.fgoly.org , are trying to solve the same issues. Would it be better to have an affiliated sub organization within each State to deal with the issues of that State and report back to FreeGeek Central? For example, in Washington State we have the Take It Back Network to deal with which doesn't exist in other States. Other States are having similar problems. We need a system that helps us get properly started and then keeps us on the right track.

What do you think about this? What about a statewide Washington meeting?

Thanks,

Joel Carlson
http://www.CarlsonCo.net

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [freegeek-startup] Secure data erasing/wipe... certified ?
> From: "Iain (FreeGeek) Davidson" <iain at freegeek.org>
> Date: Fri, September 08, 2006 9:24 am
> To: "Making new Free Geeks outside of PDX" <startup at lists.freegeek.org>
> 
> ok,
>    we have recently established a great relationship with a locally owned bank with a few county branches.
> 
> They are donating piles of PC's, monitors, mice, keyboards, and other misc computer stuff.   yeah!
>  
> Unfortunately, they are concerned about data security and information which was stored on the hard drives.  So they are removing the hard drives and keeping them.... due to the fact they have no way to securely erase the data. 
> 
> We've been working with them on recommending both OpenSource and commercial software.... which clearly state that data erasing is up to government standards.  But still they feel uncomfortable sending us the hard drives.  (they are 10, 20, and sometimes 40 GB !!!) 
> 
> Does anyone have experience working with businesses which are concerned about data security ?  Especially banks or financial institutions ?
> Has a FG worked out a relationship with a data-erasing company/business to certify that their processes are secure ? 
> 
> What process do others do, to securely erase the data?
> 
> -Iain 'hard drive less' Davidson
> p.s.  Luckily, a previous grant of hard drives from PDX, is helping us survive the deficit for awhile.
>  
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