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03-21-2008, 11:25 AM #1Newbie
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Posts
- 18
Delete everything on server before cancelling?
I am currently transferring from a VPS to a dedicated server.
After you have made the transition, do you delete everything on your previous server? Or can I expect that everything be deleted anyway when my subscription runs out?
I bring this up because there sometimes is sensitive data stored there (ie. databases with personal info) and I'm wondering how much I should delete. Obviously I'll get rid of the DBs, but what about essential stuff like the operating system?
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03-21-2008, 11:40 AM #2Aspiring Evangelist
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Greece
- Posts
- 390
Delete databases.
Delete websites.
Delete all users except root (mysql and ftp also).
change root passwordNOT a webhost!helping here just for the fun of it!
G(r)eek inside.
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03-21-2008, 11:50 AM #3Disabled
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Posts
- 630
Any highly sensitive data should be encrypted anyway, in case of server breach or otherwise unauthorised access.
In terms of a VPS, your hosting provider will usually delete the VPS after your subscription expires so that they can recreate a new one for someone else. There's no sense in reusing them.
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03-21-2008, 12:07 PM #4WHT Addict
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- Mar 2008
- Location
- kolkata, India
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- 102
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03-21-2008, 02:30 PM #5Backup Guru
- Join Date
- Feb 2002
- Location
- New York, NY
- Posts
- 4,618
I would delete the files. Your provider SHOULD delete the whole VPS when you cancel, but they may not.
I wouldn't be as concerned about a VPS as a dedicated server. I have seen plenty of examples of dedicated server providers reusing the same OS installation rather than reimaging the HD, simply because they're too lazy to reimage the server, or they just aren't aware of the security issues.Scott Burns, President
BQ Internet Corporation
Remote Rsync and FTP backup solutions
*** http://www.bqbackup.com/ ***
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03-21-2008, 03:22 PM #6Disabled
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Posts
- 630
Please be aware that deleting files does NOT guarantee they are inaccessible. It's relatively trivial to restore deleted files from most filesystems, so should your VPS provider reuse your existing VPS configuration, the "new" user may be able to access your data.
If anything is that sensitive, encryption should be your first choice. Never store anything unencrypted that you don't class as public information already.