How to Securely Erase data from USB drive

How to Securely Erase data from USB drive

By Kajal Majhi   4:21 PM   No comments:

What is Secure Delete?

When you delete a file in Windows only the reference of from the file system table is removed but the actual file is still present in the drive and the reference can be restored and the data can be recover by using various data recovery tools out there.

Why Secure Delete?

Are you planning to sell your smartphone, tablet, laptop? Then you

 should be aware about few important things about privacy and protection of your data. What normally people do is “Factory reset” or “Format” by plugging into the computer .But beware, if you are going to hand over your device the it may not be the correct way to securely wipe your every data.  Anyone who have partial knowledge about data recovery can easily recover your deleted data by using freely available data recovery tools like windows kernel and recuva until you overwrites the data randomly. So, don’t fall in the prey of blackmailing, your privacy is in your hand .

How to Securely Erase data from your USB drive.

For tool I use CCleaner . There are many tools out there such as ERASER, FILE SHREDDER etc but CCleaner is my favorite because it is easier to use as well as I get all the system tuning tools at a single place.  You will get a portable version which you don’t have to install , just click and run.

Open CCleaner  and goto TOOLS section

Go to DRIVE WIPER

In the WIPE section Select “ENTIRE DRIVE” to  erase the entire drive else select “FREE SPACE ONLY”

Next in the security panel choose the 2^nd option “Advance Overwrite”

Now from the list of drives choose your USB Drive and click on “WIPE”

Now wait for some time it make take longer depends upon the size of the USB drive as well as the configuration of your system.

I have illustrated all the steps in the video below. Check it out.

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How to remove RAMNIT malware

How to remove RAMNIT malware

By Kajal Majhi   1:53 AM   No comments:

Ramnit is one of the most dangerous threat which is active today, it is a form of malware which is integrated with social engineering and because of which an user can be victim of this malware very easily. Usually it infects the .exe , .dill , .html files and also steals banking and financial information.

It is a multi component malware which spreads through removal devices such as USB Flash drive and stays stable until an user logged into his account.

It opens a backdoor which becomes easy for remote attackers to access your system remotely and make sudden changes as per their wish.

It makes some terrify changes in your computer , due to which it becomes difficult to make any changes such as OS updates, install security software or any anti malware programs.

Its steals browser cookies

Its steals login data and saved FTP and financial credentials.

How RAMNIT infect and work in a windows system?
When an user logged in into his Online bank account , then RAMNIT inject into a page where the user has to configure a phone number for one time password (OTP) or any other page to “set transfer processing system”  where it execute a temporary phone number. Then it connect to the command server designed by the attacker where it dispatch the details . Then the user receive a temporary number via RAMNIT and a OTP from the bank’s server. When the user enter the both his is right in the traps because he has authorized a money transfer to the attacker’s account unknowingly .

How to detect RAMNIT in your system?
You can diagonanis your system by various system diagonis tools and can see the infected output below:

“REG:system.ini: UserInit=c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe,,c:\program files\microsoft\desktoplayer.exe”

How to get ride of RAMNIT malware?

Its is not easy to get ride of such type of malware which makes difficult to install security suit , but we have many options  to try.

Microsoft has many free tools which can detect and remove such threats .

Windows Defender  for Windows 8 and Windows8.1

Microsoft security Essentials for  Windows 7 and Windows Vista

Windows Malicious software removal tools

Option two:
Download eScan antivirus toolkit.
Start your PC in safe mode  ( You can get the Safe mode option in BIOS under Boot settings )
Lunch the Toolkit and scan the complete hard drive.

Advice for user :
Always use a strong password
Use a good Firewall software
Always scan the removal storage media
Perform system updates at least once in a month.

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