The statement 'Videotapes with classified information can be destroyed by recording unclassified information over the classified information' is

The statement 'Videotapes with classified information can be destroyed by recording unclassified information over the classified information' is

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not specified
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Destruction of media containing classified information must ensure that the prior data cannot be recovered. Simply overwriting a videotape with unclassified data does not guarantee that the original classified content is gone; magnetic media can retain residual data, and advanced recovery methods may still retrieve parts of the previous information. To meet security requirements, use approved destruction techniques that produce verifiable irrecoverability, such as degaussing for magnetic tapes or physically destroying the tapes (for example, shredding or mutilation) followed by documentation or certification of destruction. Hence, overwriting with unclassified data is not considered a sufficient method of destroying classified information.

Destruction of media containing classified information must ensure that the prior data cannot be recovered. Simply overwriting a videotape with unclassified data does not guarantee that the original classified content is gone; magnetic media can retain residual data, and advanced recovery methods may still retrieve parts of the previous information. To meet security requirements, use approved destruction techniques that produce verifiable irrecoverability, such as degaussing for magnetic tapes or physically destroying the tapes (for example, shredding or mutilation) followed by documentation or certification of destruction. Hence, overwriting with unclassified data is not considered a sufficient method of destroying classified information.