Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

What method did Carlos employ to physically destroy data so it could not be recovered by others?

1. Data encryption

2. Cross-cut shredding

3. Magnetic degaussing

4. Overwriting

The correct answer is: Cross-cut shredding

Cross-cut shredding is an effective method for physically destroying data, rendering it unrecoverable. This technique involves cutting paper documents into small, confetti-like pieces, which makes it nearly impossible to reconstruct the original information. This method is particularly useful for sensitive documents that contain confidential information. By shredding these documents into tiny fragments, even advanced recovery techniques cannot retrieve the original data, ensuring that it remains secure from unauthorized access. In contrast, data encryption is a method of securing information by converting it into a format that cannot be read without a key, but it does not physically destroy the data. Magnetic degaussing erases data from magnetic storage devices, like hard drives, by disrupting the magnetic fields. While overwriting involves replacing existing data with new information, it still leaves behind remnants that could potentially be recovered depending on the methods used. Cross-cut shredding, on the other hand, provides a definitive means of data destruction that ensures the data cannot be pieced back together.