Considering the recent news of computers that already come infected from the factory (https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=332153), and also because of all crap that normally comes pre-installed in new laptops, it might be a good idea to wipe the hard drive before using the computer. For some this might be wise, for others just too paranoiac or hard-working. What do you think/do?
I never thought about it. But after you brought this up, yes, it might be good practice wiping a new HDD. Maybe it was sent back by a customer and sold as new.
By wiping do you guys mean restore to factory defaults? Or you mean completely formatting the PC and then reinstalling an OS you have?
For me, wiping means deleting all partitions, overwriting the entire drive with pseudo-random data, then repartitioning and reformatting it to suit my need.
Absolutely. The first thing I do when I get a new HD/computer is set the thing to slave, throw another HD in there to boot from, and use it to write zeros to every sector of the new HD.
I usually just uninstall/remove anything unnecessary and use it normally until the time comes when it really needs a reformat, i.e. when something gets hosed beyond repair, etc....
It doesn't end at unwanted software for me. To use an expression: "I don't know where that thing's been." I need to know, 100%, what's on the thing. And I only want on it what I choose to put on it. This is the only way to do that.
Ditto. Although I might be more thorough in the future considering the latest disturbing news about factory infected machines.
Never thought of new HD's from Seagate, Samsung etc could come with unpleasant surprises? I think the chance is pretty slim.
I only wipe a harddrive if the previous user has installed a different version of Windows than what was preinstalled. For example I bought a netbook where Win 7 Starter had been replaced with XP, so I made a bootable Win 7 Starter flash drive and installed that (with the original serial number from the Windows sticker on the computer).
I never thought about it either. Looks like I'll start wiping the HD after I buy a new computer from now on.
Yes, I always wipe a new drive. Paranoid ? Perhaps to some, but remember the revelation a few years ago about 500 GB Maxtor drives manufactured in Thailand leaving the factory with installed malware ? I would much prefer being safe rather than sorry. In fact, being safe is my only preference.
100% yes way to much junk installed from the factory. and imo just uninstalling it doesnt ever fully remove things.
I run a single pass of DBan's PRNG Stream wipe with 3 rounds. Just to ensure nothing is there and because LUKS encryption does encrypt free space. I also wipe any phones I get and pretty much anything I can wipe.