Stripping

Deliberately deleting files, records, or data, from a system. This can be an authorised activity when, for example, duplicate files are identified and removed from the system to reclaim the disk storage space they occupy. More often, however, stripping is associated with the removal of records which evidence some fraudulent or other criminal activity. It is not unusual for Auditors, or Law Enforcement officers to find that the records they need for their investigations are not there.

Deleted records can be recovered if the storage media is secured quickly enough, but a skilled stripper can usually remove all trace of them before such action can be taken. The only recourse then is to backup files where (hopefully) copies can be obtained.