Re: [PATCH] zero disk pages used by swsusp on resume

Pavel Machek
2005-04-10T20:15:19Z

Hi!

> > Oliver Neukum wrote:
> > > What is the point in doing so after they've rested on the disk for ages?
> >
> > The point is not physical access to the disk but data gathering after
> > resume or reboot.
>
> After resume or reboot normal access control mechanisms will work
> again. Those who can read a swap partition under normal circumstances
> can also read /dev/kmem. It seems to me like you are putting an extra
> lock on a window on the third floor while leaving the front door open.

Andreas is right, his patches are needed.

Currently, if your laptop is stolen after resume, they can still data
in swsusp image.

Zeroing the swsusp pages helps a lot here, because at least they are
not getting swsusp image data without heavy tools. [Or think root
compromise month after you used swsusp.]

Encrypting swsusp image is of course even better, because you don't
have to write large ammounts of zeros to your disks during resume ;-).

Pavel
--
Boycott Kodak -- for their patent abuse against Java.