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Discussion => Security => Topic started by: eyedeaaaa on September 18, 2013, 02:44 am

Title: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: eyedeaaaa on September 18, 2013, 02:44 am
How can I completely remove tor from my computer? I'm going to assume deleting it and emptying my recycling bin isn't enough
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: astor on September 18, 2013, 03:44 pm
If you think someone is going to perform a forensic analysis of your hard drive, you should DBAN it. Tor can leave all kinds of subtle traces that you may not be aware of: http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=148291.msg1152452#msg1152452

They will still know that you wiped your hard drive.
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: CaptianKirk on September 21, 2013, 01:15 am
you need to read up on Tails or booting up from a live OS then you will not have to worry bout leaving a trace...try using CCleaner or Eraser they delete items multiple times and encrypt each time making it harder to recover the items
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: uninfested on September 21, 2013, 01:35 am
The only safe and simple choice is to completely format the hard-drive.

You may remove the downloaded files easily but you could forget download history that shows you downloaded tor, or unrar/unzip history that shows you extracted tor, or browser history that shows you acessed the tor download page, or documents history that shows you executed tor, or software firewall permissions for tor, or many other types of evidence you are unaware of.

Tails or another live OS is something you should look into.
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: GotGas on September 21, 2013, 05:33 am
As astor said DBAN. Ccleaner drive wiper function will be similar but it won't wipe the whole drive. The OS will still be there.

Best way to use Tor is from a TAILS CD as it won't store any data.
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: kmfkewm on September 21, 2013, 05:38 am
The only safe and simple choice is to completely format the hard-drive.

You may remove the downloaded files easily but you could forget download history that shows you downloaded tor, or unrar/unzip history that shows you extracted tor, or browser history that shows you acessed the tor download page, or documents history that shows you executed tor, or software firewall permissions for tor, or many other types of evidence you are unaware of.

Tails or another live OS is something you should look into.

format != wipe
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: uninfested on September 21, 2013, 06:07 am
The only safe and simple choice is to completely format the hard-drive.

You may remove the downloaded files easily but you could forget download history that shows you downloaded tor, or unrar/unzip history that shows you extracted tor, or browser history that shows you acessed the tor download page, or documents history that shows you executed tor, or software firewall permissions for tor, or many other types of evidence you are unaware of.

Tails or another live OS is something you should look into.

format != wipe

Good point.
When erasing the hard-drive find a program explicitely designed for the secure cleaning of your entire drive.
Don't simply use the "format" or "delete" commands.
If you have a SSD you may just want to burn the fucker. Some SSDs are troublesome to impossible to securely wipe.
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: thedogg on September 21, 2013, 04:08 pm
I have heard that you can completly destroy your hard drive if you put it in the microwave.  I wonder if that would really work?
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: kmfkewm on September 21, 2013, 11:09 pm
just dban or secure erase. Every week we get people asking this question and a thousand people giving crazy ideas like put it in microwave or pour cup of water on it. Just wipe the damn thing with DBAN or Secure Erase. Preferably Secure Erase followed by DBAN. Secure Erase is best. DBAN is second best. Both provides defense in depth in case of implementation errors in either. Nothing else is likely to be as secure short of melting the thing down into a liquid.
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: brasky on September 22, 2013, 02:36 am
You shouldnt be using tor on your own daily use computer. Use either tails or an encrypted virtual machine. Also best to use wifi away from your home. Come one man this stuff isnt hard. Securing yourself is just a check list you need to run down each time.
Title: Re: completely removing tor from computer
Post by: bbbaac on September 22, 2013, 04:14 am
i keep tor on a usb stick. once i unplug it, tor wont run and cant be found on the computer.