← VCE Software Development U3O2

Secure disposal of files and storage media

Permanently destroying files and storage media no longer needed (e.g. secure deletion, shredding old drives) so data cannot be recovered, once any retention period ends.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 82, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 118, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 145, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 108

Understanding Secure disposal of files and storage media in VCE Software Development U3O2

What it does: The check against the retention end date means the file is destroyed only once it is no longer needed to be kept. The Recycle Bin only moves the file. The data is still on the drive and easy to recover. Secure deletion overwrites the data so it cannot be recovered. Shredding or crushing a drive is a physical disposal method that makes the stored data unrecoverable.

Common mistakes: The < means files are deleted while they are still inside the retention period. The file should only be destroyed once its age is greater than the retention period: IF age > keepYears THEN. The recycle bin does not permanently destroy anything, so the data can still be recovered. Each file should be removed with secureDelete(file).

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 72–85) and word search (Modules 52–85).

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Learning
Duo
Which action counts as secure disposal of a file containing personal information?
Dragging the file to the Recycle Bin and leaving it thereOverwriting the file with secure deletion software so it cannot be recovered
Matches
delete("clients_2015.csv") // file now disposed
↓
A normal delete only removes the file's entry and the data can often be recovered. Secure deletion that overwrites the data is needed.
Applying
Meanings
Term
disposal
Meaning
Permanently destroying files and storage media no longer needed (e.g. secure deletion, shredding old drives) so data cannot be recovered, once any retention period ends.
Practice
retentionYears = 7
Testing
Gaps
IF today retentionEnd THEN
Check Answer
Spots
1SET keepYears ← 7
2IF age < keepYears THEN

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Quick Questions

1. Which action counts as secure disposal of a file containing personal information?
A. Overwriting the file with secure deletion software so it cannot be recovered ✓
B. Dragging the file to the Recycle Bin and leaving it there
The Recycle Bin only moves the file. The data is still on the drive and easy to recover. Secure deletion overwrites the data so it cannot be recovered.
2. A school retires an old hard drive that held student records. What is the best disposal method?
A. Format it quickly and donate it to a charity
B. Physically destroy the drive, for example by shredding it ✓
A quick format often leaves the data recoverable. Shredding or physically destroying the drive means the data cannot be recovered.
3. True or false: Disposal means permanently destroying data so it cannot be recovered.
A. True ✓
B. False
Disposal is permanent destruction of files and media no longer needed. Hiding or moving a file is not disposal.
4. When should an organisation securely dispose of customer records?
A. Once the retention period has ended and the data is no longer needed ✓
B. As soon as the data is collected, whether or not it is still needed
A retention period is how long data must be kept. Once it ends and the data is not needed, the data should be securely destroyed. Destroying it earlier could break legal or business requirements.
5. Which statement about retention periods is correct?
A. Data should be kept forever just in case it is useful later
B. Data is kept for the retention period, then securely disposed of ✓
Keeping data longer than necessary increases privacy and security risks. Disposal should follow once the retention period ends.

Match the Pairs

secureDelete("clients_2015.csv") → Permanently erases a file by overwriting its data so it cannot be recovered
shred(oldDrive) → Physically destroys an old storage device so the data on it cannot be read again
Disposal only happens after the retention period has ended → IF today > retentionEndDate THEN secureDelete(file)
Disposal of a retired drive should destroy it, not just wipe or reformat it → IF drive.status = "retired" THEN shred(drive)
delete("clients_2015.csv") // file now disposed → A normal delete only removes the file's entry and the data can often be recovered. Secure deletion that overwrites the data is needed.
IF file.age > 0 THEN secureDelete(file) → The file is destroyed without checking the retention period, so data that must still be kept could be lost.

Key Term

disposal
Permanently destroying files and storage media no longer needed (e.g. secure deletion, shredding old drives) so data cannot be recovered, once any retention period ends.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF today > retentionEnd THEN secureDelete(file) END IF
Hint: Type the comparison operator meaning today is after the end of the retention period.
2. IF today > retentionEnd THEN secureDelete(file) END IF
Hint: Type the procedure name that permanently erases the file so it cannot be recovered.
3. IF today > retentionEnd THEN secureDelete(file) END IF
Hint: Type the variable holding the date the retention period finishes.
4. FOR EACH drive IN oldDrives shred(drive) END FOR
Hint: Type the loop keywords that process every drive in the list of old drives.
5. retentionYears ← 7 keepUntil ← createdYear + retentionYears IF today > keepUntil THEN secureDelete(file)
Hint: Type the operator that adds the retention period to the year the file was created.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A SET keepYears ← 7
B IF age < keepYears THEN
C secureDelete(file)
D END IF
Line B — The < means files are deleted while they are still inside the retention period. The file should only be destroyed once its age is greater than the retention period: IF age > keepYears THEN.
Question 2
A FOR EACH file IN oldDrive
B moveToRecycleBin(file)
C NEXT file
Line B — The recycle bin does not permanently destroy anything, so the data can still be recovered. Each file should be removed with secureDelete(file).
Question 3
A IF retentionOver THEN
B secureDelete(file)
C destroyCopies ← FALSE
D END IF
Line C — Disposal must also destroy copies, such as backups, or the data can still be recovered. It should be destroyCopies ← TRUE.
Question 4
A SET method ← "reformat"
B destroy(oldDrive, method)
C PRINT "Drive destroyed"
Line A — Reformatting a drive leaves the old data recoverable. A destructive method such as shredding is needed so the data cannot be recovered.
Question 5
A FOR EACH drive IN activeDrives
B physicallyDestroy(drive)
C NEXT drive
Line A — Only drives that are no longer needed should be destroyed. Looping over activeDrives would destroy drives still in use. It should loop over oldDrives.

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