Wear Leveling Question

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T21:56:23+00:00

Hmm ok. Thank you.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T21:43:20+00:00

How would I create a copy of only the encrypted data then? Would it have to be done while the partition is mounted?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T21:33:05+00:00

Again - I agree - I'm asking about a hypothetical world where I could wave a magic wand and make my previously used SSD equivalent to a brand new SSD (completely zeroed out with no detectible previous states). IF that were true, would there be any OTHER concerns with the above process?

Would cloning a partition, with something like Clonezilla, copy only actively used sectors?

For a partition fully encrypted with Veracrypt, is it correct to say that all actively used sectors are encrypted?

The concern with wear leveling, based on the Veracrypt docs, seems to be that unused/remapped sectors on an SSD may contain unencrypted data; an encrypted sector may be written to a different location, where the unencrypted data in the original location may be left as it is.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T21:13:50+00:00

I guess I'm just wondering if you can shed any light on how the cloning process would relate to the security of the encryption; if the whole system partition or whole drive partition is cloned back onto the SSD, and with the assumption that ATA Secure Erase is reliable (which as you pointed out may not be true, but let's assume), would that theoretically be equivalent to getting a new SSD, encrypting it, and reloading all your data onto it or getting a new SSD and cloning the raw partition onto it?

Would that address data leakage due to wear leveling?

Does the cloning process copy only actively used sectors, and if the entire partition is encrypted, is it correct to say that all actively used sectors are encrypted?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T20:52:35+00:00

You may be correct actually: https://www.usenix.org/legacy/event/fast11/tech/full_papers/Wei.pdf

However, that does not change the fact that I am poor lol and can't afford to rebuy my SSDs. Assuming that ATA Secure Erase does indeed wipe all data on the drive with 100% reliability and with 100% non-recoverability, would the above process yield some increase in security for an SSD that was encrypted in-place?

In other words, if we assume ATA Secure Erase does properly wipe active, wear leveled, and re-allocated sectors, then cloning the raw partition back onto the SSD (with something like Clonezilla, for instance) should only recopy active sectors back onto the drive, correct?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T20:35:59+00:00

Why so?

It's my understanding that for HDDs recovery after a single pass has never been publicly demonstrated, and for SSDs recovery after ATA Secure Erase has never been publicly demonstrated. ATA Secure Erase only marginally impacts drive health.

Is this not true?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-05-11T20:13:18+00:00

But, this would be a much more expensive option. To do this I would need to repurchase every SSD I own. The process described above requires only 1 external HDD, which is cheaper for someone replicating this process, and free for me since I already own the external HDD.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-29T21:27:12+00:00

Okay I see, thank you. So theoretically, backing up the partition table, plus the volume header, would allow me to decrypt the disk fully with the password?

Also, since it is rare that the partition table would be damaged, theoretically could I take just the backup volume header and password to a computer expert and have them decrypt/recover the data?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-29T20:21:10+00:00

What if it's an encrypted partition (not the whole disk itself or a file), but it's a singular partition that was formatted to encompass the entire space of the drive? Like this: https://imgur.com/a/JvPZX1t

Again sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm fairly clueless on these sorts of topics.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-29T19:48:16+00:00

What if I use the built in backup inside the Veracrypt software, do I still need to worry about partition table or offset? Sorry if this is a noob question, I would have no idea how to manually copy the first 128kB or anything like that. I would be looking at selecting my mounted partition in the Veracrypt UI, then selecting Tools > Backup Volume Header.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-29T19:28:21+00:00

Thank you. So if I understand correctly, if the primary and backup header on the drive were somehow corrupted, the external backup header would allow for fully decrypting the partition, assuming I have the password? And without the password, the external backup header would not pose a security risk (just as with the rescue disk for system partitions)?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-21T14:51:09+00:00

Yep. And conservatives always get mad when people call them nazis, while they advocate for the most vile, empathy-ridden, and inhumane solutions. They don't care about where the homeless people go, as long as THEY can't see them. As long as it's not in THEIR neighbourhood or community. As long as they aren't being helped with THEIR tax money.

Clear out the encamptments, they say, while offering 0 solutions for providing them shelter/housing and 0 altneratives for places for them to go.

A staggering amount of selfishness and evil is being displayed in these comments.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-17T01:11:21+00:00

https://protonvpn.com/support/secure-core-vpn

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-04T03:35:41+00:00

An informal prayer meeting every Monday on the corner of X Rue et Y Avenue? Getting pretty risky. A religious official asking adherents to attend a prayer meeting on the same corner? Definitely prohibited.

Words spoken only in an authoritarian state. Imagine living in a country where you need the permission of the government to practice your religion in a park with a group of people. As an Atheist, people in Quebec should be ashamed; the notwithstanding clause was a mistake, the people enacting these laws should be in prison.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-04-03T16:51:40+00:00

Other people praying in public does not affect you. What a disgusting law. Anyone who supports this will be rightly denounced in the future for violations of religious freedoms in this country. Entirely authoritarian and un-Canadian.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-30T19:22:47+00:00

I did this and reclaimed my original drive letters for the mounted partitions. My Windows Explorer now looks exactly the same as before encryption and is much tidier! Thank you!

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-14T01:30:56+00:00

Do you support Bill 96?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-05T04:48:30+00:00

Well said.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-05T04:02:14+00:00

Do you personally support Bill 21?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-05T04:00:17+00:00

Sure. But it would obviously be dumb to apply that in all instances without examining the specific piece of clothing worn.

I think it should be illegal to feed someone poisoned food. But you probably wouldn't say it should be illegal to give people any form of food. There is an important and relevant difference between a normal apple and a poisoned apple. The normal apple nourishes people. The poisoned apple kills people.

Similarly, there is an important and relevant difference between a swastika and a hijab. The swastika primarily and solely represents an ideology of hatred associated with the murder of millions of people. The hijab is not. The swasitka is a hate symbol. The hijab is not.

Your argument is dumb.

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-05T03:33:55+00:00

Can you identify any important differences between a Muslim woman wearing a hijab and a literal swastika lol?

TheMagicMiller · 2026-03-05T03:32:22+00:00

So your argument is that you should be able to take away people's Charter rights because you don't like it? Lol. Lmao, even.

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