Before using WIPERAPP, it’s essential to meet a few prerequisites to ensure a seamless setup and operation. This includes having the right hardware, such as a bootable USB drive and compatible storage devices, as well as downloading the WIPERAPP ISO.
Following these prerequisites will prepare you to securely erase data with WIPERAPP while meeting your performance needs.
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To run WIPERAPP efficiently, ensure that your computer system’s hardware is ready and meets the following specifications:
| Component | Requirement |
| Computer System | A computer or laptop with at least 2 GB of RAM and a modern CPU is required to run WIPERAPP smoothly. |
| Bootable USB Drive | Use a USB flash drive or an SD card with a minimum capacity of 2 GB. For faster performance, it’s recommended to use a USB 3.0 drive or a high-speed SD card. If you’re unsure how to prepare the flash drive or SD card, refer to the Prepare a Flash Drive guide. |
| Target Storage Devices | Ensure the storage devices (HDDs, SSDs, NVMe drives) you intend to erase are connected to your system and properly detected. |
The correct software setup is critical for creating a bootable WIPERAPP drive. Ensure the following software is ready:
| Item | Description |
| WIPERAPP ISO File | Download the latest version of the ISO file from the official WIPERAPP website. Refer to the Download WIPERAPP ISO guide for assistance. |
| ISO Burning Tool | Use a reliable tool such as Balena Etcher to flash the WIPERAPP ISO file onto a USB drive, ensuring it is bootable and ready for use. |
WIPERAPP requires an active account and valid licenses to access its features. Set these up before proceeding:
| Feature | Description |
| WIPERAPP Account | Create a WIPERAPP account by registering on the official platform, verifying your email, and logging in to manage licenses and access additional tools seamlessly. |
| Licenses | Purchase or redeem the appropriate license based on the number of drives you plan to erase. |
While WIPERAPP can operate offline for most core functions, certain features require an active internet connection. These include downloading updates to ensure the software remains up to date with the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.
Additionally, license verification requires a connection to activate and validate your WIPERAPP license.
Other internet-dependent features include accessing advanced cloud-based functionality, such as centralized reporting or managing data wiping across multiple devices, and generating or uploading tokens directly through WIPERAPP.
To ensure uninterrupted access to these features, verify that your network connection is stable before starting WIPERAPP.
To ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory data erasure requirements, it's essential to understand the standards that WIPERAPP supports. WIPERAPP is fully compliant with the Purge and Clear standards outlined in NIST 800-88 rev.1, the latest international standard for data erasure.
Additionally, WIPERAPP is certified under the ADISA Product Claims Test (ADPC) 161, ensuring its effectiveness in securely erasing data according to industry-leading standards.
WIPERAPP's AUTO mode intelligently checks all available data wiping methods supported by the disk firmware and applies them in the following priority order:
| Erasure Method | Description |
| Crypto Scramble Erase | Encrypts the data on the drive and deletes the encryption keys, making the data completely unreadable. |
| Block Erase | Erases specific data blocks directly at the hardware level for secure deletion. |
| Security Enhanced Erase | Uses the drive’s built-in security features to securely and permanently erase data. |
| Overwrite | Writes specific patterns (e.g., 0x00, 0xFF, or random) to overwrite and sanitize the drive’s data. |
WIPERAPP also supports widely recognized overwrite methods, including:
| Standard/Algorithm | Passes Count | Pattern Used |
| U.S. National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DoD 5220.22-M) | 3 passes | Random, Complement, Random |
| U.S. DoD Unclassified Computer Hard Drive Disposition | 18 passes | 6x Random, Complement, Random |
| U.S. Navy Staff Office Publication NAVSO P-5239-26 | 3 passes | Random, Complement, Random |
| U.S. Air Force System Security Instruction 5020 | 3 passes | 0x00, 0xFF, Random |
| British HMG Infosec Standard 5, Baseline Standard | 2 passes | 0x00, Random |
| British HMG Infosec Standard 5, Enhanced Standard | 3 passes | 0x00, 0xFF, Random |
| Bruce Schneier’s Algorithm | 7 passes | 0xFF, 0x00, Random (5x) |
| German Federal Office for Information Security | 4 passes | Random, Complement, Random, Complement |
| Communications Security Establishment Canada ITSG-06 | 3 passes | 0xFF, Complement, Random |
For enhanced flexibility, operators can also select custom media overwrite methods, choosing the number of passes (1-16) and overwrite patterns (0x00, 0xFF, random). By ensuring these prerequisites are met, you’ll be fully prepared to utilize WIPERAPP for secure and compliant data sanitization.
For the next steps, refer to the Prepare a Flash Drive and Start WIPERAPP ISO guides.