CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)SecurityHard
A company is decommissioning several old solid-state drives (SSDs) that contained confidential financial records. A technician suggests using a degausser to erase the data. Why would this method fail to properly sanitize the SSDs?
- ADegaussers only work on drives larger than 1TB
- BDegaussing requires the drive to be connected to a running computer
- CSSDs use flash memory chips, not magnetic platters, so degaussing has no effect
- DSSDs automatically encrypt data, making degaussing unnecessary
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. SSDs use flash memory chips, not magnetic platters, so degaussing has no effect
Degaussing works by disrupting the magnetic fields on platters found in traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). Since SSDs store data electronically in flash memory chips rather than on magnetic media, degaussing has no effect and does not sanitize the data.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Degaussing effectiveness is unrelated to drive capacity; it depends on the storage medium type.
- B. Degaussing is performed on a drive removed from the system, not while it is running.
- D. SSDs do not automatically encrypt all data by default, and encryption alone is not degaussing.
Degaussing Limitations on SSDs
Degaussing erases data by disrupting magnetic fields, which is effective only on magnetic media like HDDs; it does not work on SSDs since they use non-magnetic flash memory.
- Degaussing is effective on HDDs and magnetic tape
- SSDs require physical destruction or secure erase/wipe utilities
- Improper sanitization method can leave data recoverable
Memory trick: No magnets, no magic: SSDs laugh at degaussers.