Computers, Laptops & Tablets Accessories & Hardware Overview of NAVSO P-5239-26 Details on the NAVSO P-5239-26 Data Wipe Method by Tim Fisher General Manager, VP, Lifewire.com Tim Fisher has 30+ years' professional technology support experience. He writes troubleshooting content and is the General Manager of Lifewire. our editorial process Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tim Fisher Updated on July 16, 2019 Tweet Share Email Martin Konopka / Getty Images Accessories & Hardware HDD & SSD The Quick Guide to Webcams Keyboards & Mice Monitors Cards Printers & Scanners Raspberry Pi NAVSO P-5239-26 is a software-based data sanitization method used in various file shredder and data destruction programs to overwrite existing information on a hard drive or another storage device. Erasing a hard drive using the NAVSO P-5239-26 data sanitization method will prevent all software based file recovery methods from lifting information from the drive and is also likely to prevent most hardware-based recovery methods from extracting information. NAVSO P-5239-26 Wipe Method The NAVSO P-5239-26 data sanitization method is usually implemented in the following way: Pass 1 — Writes a specified character (e.g. one)Pass 2 — Writes the complement of the specified character (e.g. zero)Pass 3 — Writes a random character and verifies the write The NAVSO P-5239-26 data sanitization method we list above is the way most data destruction programs implement the standard. However, according to the actual specification, this is the less effective, "alternate method." The "preferred method" involves a more complicated overwriting pattern. The Origins of NAVSO P-5239-26 The NAVSO P-5239-26 sanitization method was originally defined in Navy Staff Office Publication 5239 Module 26: Information Systems Security Program Guidelines, published by the US Navy. You can read the NAVSO P-5239-26 data sanitization specification in 3.3.c.1 and 3.3.c.2 of NAVSO Publication 5239-26. It's unclear if the US Navy still uses NAVSO P-5239-26 as its software-based data sanitization standard. Most data destruction programs support multiple data sanitization methods in addition to NAVSO P-5239-26. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit