Overwriting (Computer Science)
Encyclopedia
Overwriting is a process of writing a binary
set of data on a memory. In general it writes over the previous data, hence the name. Overwriting generally occurs when unused file system clusters
are written upon with new data, though overwriting is also used in security algorithms. These algorithms use a precise set of rules to remove any part of an original data from the memory by writing a new raw data on the memory.
Data that has been overwritten, even just once, is generally considered to be unrecoverable. There have been theories regarding the feasibility of recovering overwritten data, but none have been put into actual practice. As such there is no evidence in favor of recovering overwritten data, but several suggesting it is entirely impossible. Many urban myths claim it's possible, but often these claims stems from recovering files that have not actually been overwritten.
Binary code
A binary code is a way of representing text or computer processor instructions by the use of the binary number system's two-binary digits 0 and 1. This is accomplished by assigning a bit string to each particular symbol or instruction...
set of data on a memory. In general it writes over the previous data, hence the name. Overwriting generally occurs when unused file system clusters
Cluster (file system)
In computer file systems, a cluster or allocation unit is the unit of disk space allocation for files and directories. To reduce the overhead of managing on-disk data structures, the filesystem does not allocate individual disk sectors, but contiguous groups of sectors, called clusters.On a disk...
are written upon with new data, though overwriting is also used in security algorithms. These algorithms use a precise set of rules to remove any part of an original data from the memory by writing a new raw data on the memory.
Data that has been overwritten, even just once, is generally considered to be unrecoverable. There have been theories regarding the feasibility of recovering overwritten data, but none have been put into actual practice. As such there is no evidence in favor of recovering overwritten data, but several suggesting it is entirely impossible. Many urban myths claim it's possible, but often these claims stems from recovering files that have not actually been overwritten.