[109471] in Cypherpunks
CDR: Re: About Alpha radiation... (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Choate)
Thu Mar 25 08:27:05 1999
From: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
To: cypherpunks@einstein.ssz.com
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 06:45:33 -0600 (CST)
Reply-To: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
----- Forwarded message from Lucky Green -----
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 11:44:47 +0100 (CET)
From: Lucky Green <shamrock@cypherpunks.to>
Subject: CDR: Re: About Alpha radiation...
...
One of my favorite examples is DRAM. Yes, your DRAM may have a 60ns
refresh cycle. Does this mean pulling the plug on your computer will
permanently erase the key that was stored in the same DRAM segment for
days? Not even close. Sure, the OS can't read out the key. But serious
destructive analysis is able recover the key for weeks or months after you
pushed that "emergency" button.
...
----- End of forwarded message from Lucky Green -----
That's only partialy correct. The data could be recovered through long-term
charge storage *provided* the memory isn't used after the power down. If
it's powered back up and cycled even once then such data is destroyed
permanently by being over-written with the new data.
____________________________________________________________________
The trouble with acting according to your conscience is that
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Alexis A. Gilliland
The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate
Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com
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