{
  "slug": "clear-sanitization",
  "term": "Clear sanitization",
  "aliases": [
    "Clear sanitization method"
  ],
  "definition": "Clear sanitization uses logical operations across all user-addressable storage locations to resist simple, non-invasive recovery through the device interface available to the user, such as the host interface.",
  "note": "NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 section 3.1.1 limits this method to the user-interface recovery boundary; it is not a claim that every physical flash cell has been erased. SSD remapping and spare capacity can keep older data outside host-addressable locations. Repeated host overwrites do not establish purge assurance. The selected technique must suit the medium and the required confidentiality protection. [nist-r2]",
  "status": "shipping",
  "advantages": [
    {
      "text": "Typically preserves the medium for reuse when an appropriate clear technique can be applied.",
      "citationIds": [
        "nist-r2"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    {
      "text": "Does not promise resistance to laboratory recovery from inaccessible flash areas; an inoperable device may prevent a suitable logical overwrite.",
      "citationIds": [
        "nist-r2"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "data-sanitization",
    "purge-sanitization",
    "destroy-sanitization",
    "sanitization-verification",
    "sanitization-validation",
    "ftl"
  ],
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "updated": "2026-10-14",
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "nist-r2",
      "title": "NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 (2025), Guidelines for Media Sanitization, 3.1.1, printed pages 8-10",
      "url": "https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-88r2.pdf",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    },
    {
      "id": "hesela",
      "title": "Hesela: SSD sanitization: why TRIM and a successful command are not enough",
      "url": "https://hesela.com/analyses/ssd-sanitization-trim-evidence/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    }
  ]
}