File System Cleaning via Volume Locking and Sector Overwriting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional file system cleaning methods fail to thoroughly remove user privacy information, leading to potential data leakage when files are deleted or formatted, as residual data remains on the disk and can be recovered using data recovery software.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for clearing up a file system by locking a volume, clearing garbage information including deleted files and volume free space, and unlocking the volume, which involves traversing metadata tables in NTFS and directory entries in FAT systems to erase privacy-related data and overwriting free space with temporary files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If files are deleted or disk is formatted using conventional methods, then storage space is recovered, but residual data remains on the disk and can be recovered using data recovery software
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by overwriting disk sectors with random data patterns immediately after file deletion or formatting, before any data recovery operation can be performed. The system traverses the file system metadata, identifies freed sectors, and fills them with pseudorandom data sequences, ensuring that original data is irrecoverably destroyed at the physical storage level.
2Loss of information
If data recovery software is used to restore deleted files, then file data can be recovered, but user privacy information may be leaked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of data residual into a benefit by using the same disk sectors that contained private information as the target for overwriting operations. The system identifies sectors that previously held user data through file system metadata analysis, then applies cryptographic-grade random data patterns to these specific sectors, transforming the privacy risk into a security enhancement by ensuring that even if recovery software scans the disk, only random noise remains.
3Productivity
If conventional file cleaning methods are used, then temporary files are removed, but privacy information in deleted files and formatted volumes is not thoroughly cleaned up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the disk into two distinct processing stages: first, file system-level cleaning that removes temporary files and updates metadata; second, sector-level overwriting that targets specific physical locations where deleted file data and formatted volume information reside. This dual-layer approach maintains high productivity through automated metadata-driven sector identification while ensuring comprehensive privacy protection by addressing both logical and physical data remnants.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure may provide a method, device and storage medium for clearing up a file system. A volume may be opened and locked according to a clearing-up instruction. The clearing-up instruction may indicate the volume which is to be cleared up. Garbage information on a disk corresponding to the volume may be cleared up. The volume may be unlocked after the garbage information is cleared up. The device may include a locking module, a clearing-up module and an unlocking module. With the example of the present disclosure, when the clearing-up instruction is received, the garbage information on the disk corresponding to the volume may be cleared up. Therefore, the privacy of the user remained in the file system may be thoroughly cleared up, the leakage of the privacy of the user may be avoided and the security of the file system may be enhanced.