Main Content Region

Tools

Identity Finder

Identity Finder for Windows
Identity Finder for Mac OS X
Identity Finder (now called Spirion) is immensely useful in identifying files that may contain sensitive, personal identifiable information, such as social security and credit card numbers. It is only licensed for campus use. This copy does an offline scan and does not report any findings to the campus' Identity Finder server. When you run it the first time, it will ask for a password so it can encrypt the locally stored database of information that it finds, so create a password just for this purpose, then click "Start Search Now." Only those files needed to conduct business and meet regulatory requirements should be stored. Others should be stored "off-line" or destroyed. For more information, see SSN/Credit Card Information Finder.

Identity Finder Screenshot

Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware

Please visit our Anti-Malware page.

Degausser

Our Verity Systems DataGauss - Hard Drive degausser is available to the campus to destroy non-public information on media intended to be transferred or discarded. Place an appointment to use the degausser by contacting the Information Security Office.  NOTE: DO NOT EXPECT A DEGAUSSER TO REMOVE DATA FROM A SOLID-STATE DRIVE (SSD) AS THEY DO NOT STORE DATA MAGNETICALLY.

Hard Drive Degausser Discard

Degausser alternatives include:

Paper Shredding Bin

A shredding bin is housed in PL-2104.

To minimize cost, please limit use of the shredding bin to classified or confidential University–related paperwork that cannot otherwise be recycled through the routine refuse pick–ups.

Eraser

Eraser for Windows is an open-source program that adds an option to the Recycle Bin to erase files securely, rather than simply deleting them.

Eraser for Windows Screenshot

SDelete

SDelete is a Microsoft command line utility for WIndows that you can use to securely delete existing files, as well as to securely erase any file data that exists in the unallocated portions of a disk (including files that you have already deleted).

DBAN - Derik's Boot & Nuke 

Derik's Boot And Nuke (DBAN) is a simple, powerful tool that will destroy all hard drive data. It's intended to be used on computers that will be transferred, surveyed or donated.

DBAN Screenshot

 

Find_SSNs — Virginia Tech

Find_SSNs from Virgina Tech is an older, freely-available alternative to Identity Finder.

Find_SSNs Screenshot

 

Whole Disk Encryption

Full-disk/Whole-disk encryption is intended for those working with sensitive data, such as Social Security Numbers. It is also suggested for laptops and other mobile devices.

BitLocker for Windows
FileVault for MacOS

Microsoft NPS/IAS Log Interpreter

An in-house tool to interpret logs written by Microsoft's Network Policy Server