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Ghost Record Deletion Question

  • November 2, 2011 at 11:40 am

    #247270

    I have an issue where sensitive data was placed in a table and needs to be scrubbed. Does anyone know the best process to do so? I need the deleted records to be gone, completely. I've run across this...

    select * from [problem-table] with (index = problem-index)

    which might speed up the process. But I need to be sure that this record is completely gone. Any ideas?

    In searching for my answers, this appears to be the opposite of what most people want.

  • November 2, 2011 at 11:43 am

    #1402323

    Gone as in what?

    Not visible if someone selects from the table?

    Not visible if someone uses DBCC PAGE to read the raw data page?

    Not visible if someone uses a hex editor and reads the hard drive sectors?

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

  • November 2, 2011 at 11:45 am

    #1402330

    I apologize for not being more precise.

    Gone = Not visible if someone uses a hex editor and reads the hard drive sectors?

    Also,

    The version of SQL Server is 2000.

  • November 2, 2011 at 11:53 am

    #1402340

    Export the data from every table

    Script all the objects

    Detach the database

    Use a secure delete program to delete the data and log files, overwriting them so that the sectors on the drive can't be read (or remove the drive and have it demagnetised to be completely sure)

    Create a new database

    Create the objects, import the data.

    Securely delete any backup of the database that may have had the sensitive data in it.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

  • November 2, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    #1402347

    Thank you very much!

  • November 2, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    #1402351

    btw, depending on what storage you have, that may not even be enough...

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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