[BC] x-rays and hard drives

[Cowboy]

On Friday 18 November 2005 07:08 pm, Dave wrote:
>>  They can be one of the more expensive tools used in hard drive recovery,
>>  in fact, and a procedure you don't want to know about !
>
>Ok, Curt, now you've done it. Let's hear it, just how do you recover data
>via x-ray? This sounds good.

 Never said it would be practical, and didn't mean to imply that it's
 something in common use.

 One of the guys who works with me got his degree in chemistry,
 and with specific experience in X-ray crystalography.
 That's looking at molecules to determin their internal structure.
 ( for his doctorate, the chemical bonds between specific atoms )
 It is possible to look at the surface structure of a disk, and
 determin the magnetic alignment of the individual molecules.
 Once that data is collected, you then could reconstruct the magnetic
 patterns of the disk surface, thence the data streams,
 bit by miserable bit.

 Obviously, it would be a long, and tedious process.
 If you'd even consider it, two things must be present:
 1. The data is ridiculously important.
 2. You have the budget of a government, at a minimum.

 More must be present for this to actually occur, such as the
 availability of a research facility, at a minimum equal to,
 or better than most major universities, people with experience
 at that level, and a good deal of time and motivation.

 As I said, it *can be* a tool, not a common one.

 You may remember hearing that the Soviets at one time, in order
 to protect really sensitive data would have disks ground into powder.
 You don't have to go that far, but this is one reason why.

 Has it actually been done ?
 Yes, but only as a demonstration "proof of concept" to the best of my
 knowledge, on a very small "piece" of recorded material.
 As such it "can be one of the more expensive tools" and probably
 one of the most expensive tools "available" for anything !

-- 
Cowboy

http://cowboys.homeip.net

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