Learn about the CSEC ITSG-06 method

CSEC ITSG-06 is a software-based Data Sanitization method, used in some file shredder and data shredder programs, to overwrite existing information on hard drives or other storage devices.

Erasing your hard drive with CSEC ITSG-06 method will prevent all software-based file recovery methods from finding the information on the drive, and also prevent most hardware-based recovery methods from extracting. information.

What mission does CSEC ITSG-06 do?

All Data Sanitization methods are similar, but they differ in small details. For example, Write Zero is a one-time only method that overwrites zeros. Gutmann overwrites a storage device with random characters, possibly up to dozens of times.

CSEC ITSG-06 is a software-based Data Sanitization method

However, the CSEC ITSG-06 method is a bit different in that it uses a combination of zeros, random characters, and numbers 1. This method is usually done in the following way:

1. 1st time : Overwrite number 1 or 0.
2. 2nd : Overwrite a number different from the number in the previous write (for example, if the first time overwrites with a 0, the second will overwrite with the first and vice versa).
3. 3rd : Write a random character and verify the record.

The CSEC ITSG-06 is actually identical to the NAVSO P-5239-26 method. It is similar to DoD 5220.22-M, except that it does not verify the first two records as DoD 5220.22-M.

Note : Most programs use the CSEC ITSG-06 method that allows you to customize the recording times. For example, you might add a fourth record, which includes more random characters.

However, if you change the method too different from the description above, it will no longer be CSEC ITSG-06. For example, if you customize the verification step after the first 2 records, you no longer use CSEC ITSG-06 but switch to DoD 5220.22-M instead.

CSEC ITSG-06 support programs

You won't see the CSEC ITSG-06 method being implemented with your name in many data destruction programs, but as the article mentioned above, it's extremely similar to other methods, like NAVSO P-5239. -26 and DoD 5220.22-M.

Some typical programs that use CSEC ITSG-06 are Active KillDisk (but it's not free) or WhiteCanyon WipeDrive (Small Business and Enterprise versions only).

Active KillDisk is a typical program using CSEC ITSG-06

Most data destruction programs support a variety of Data Sanitization methods, in addition to CSEC ITSG-06. If you open one of the programs just mentioned, you will have the option of using CSEC ITSG-06 but there are some other methods of data deletion. This is great if you later decide to use a different method or prefer to run multiple Data Sanitization methods on the same data.

Note : While not many programs advertise support for CSEC ITSG-06, some data destruction applications allow you to build your own custom deletion method. This means you can follow the above overrides to create something that matches or closely resembles the CSEC ITSG-06 method, even if it's not explicitly supported. CBL Data Shredder is an example of a program that allows you to build such custom deletion methods.

CSEC ITSG-06 has replaced RCMP TSSIT OPS-II as Canada's Data Sanitization standard.