M.2 SSD Can Self-Destruct by Giving Itself a Burst of Voltage

uk.pcmag.com

16 points·austinallegro··10 comments

ATA_REQUEST_THERMITE_RELEASE

ATA_POLL_THERMITE_RELEASED // always returns 0. Assume 1 if timeout

If smartphones can wipe themselves irrecoverably on factory reset by simply throwing away the storage encryption key, why not do the same thing and avoid all the trouble? Surely erasing 512 bits or so, irrecoverably, can be done quickly.

What if Quantum computer is actually possible ?

Symmetric encryption, used for data storage only loses about half its key strength to a quantum computer, due to Grover's algorithm.

So if you are using a 256 bit key you're still fine. Even a 128 bit key would still have 64 bit strength, which would still be a huge amount of work to crack, even though theoretically possible.

Flash chips, unlike hard drives, are highly reliant on their controllers. If you hit it with a hammer the data is unrecoverable. No need for a voltage zap.

seems unnecessary with encryption

You know, sometimes security through obscurity works. If you can't find all the pieces you certainly aren't going to retrieve their data.

You can be compelled to give up encryption passphrases, either through legal process or by force. If that data is irrecovably and provably erased, that is no longer an avenue for access.

put part of the symmetric encryption key in volatile memory

Just flash/flush the embedded encryption key, the SSD remains usable with a/the new encryption key. This just seems like a way to increase sales...

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