I have a couple of CD-R’s with sensitive personal information written on them that I’ve since updated on other CD-R’s. Short of buying a special shredder how can I render the information on these discs permanently and absolutely unreadable so I can throw them in the trash without worrying about ID theft?
2007-01-04 02:16:21 · 14 answers · asked by gugenheim84 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Breaking the CD won't do you any good. If your ID theft has any kind of high-tech gadgetry they can reassemble the disc and get your info.
Zapping it in the microwave as suggested by one answer is dangerous and can destroy your microwave.
The best and safest way to destroy them is to sand off the reflective layer, sanding from the label side of the disc. If you have a sander or dremel tool you can do this quickly. In either case make sure you were safety goggles to protect your eyes.
2007-01-04 03:01:19 · answer #1 · answered by ModelFlyerChick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can run a knife or pair of scissors on the top of the CD (where you would normally have the title of the CD, etc) rendering it 100% unusable.
Microwaving gives you some nice fireworks, although it smells horrid. But what is the price of your privacy?
2007-01-04 02:25:11 · answer #2 · answered by Prakash V 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
microwave is the easiest. might not be the safest. Sparks flying in your microwave etc. However if you take a knife or a metal mechanical pencil tip and scrape the top of it. The film that the data is on will scrap off like a lottery scratch ticket. That way it can't read the disc. Someone could supposedly take a image of it and fill in the missing data but that's so hard to do i don't think someone would go to such lengths.
2007-01-04 02:25:02 · answer #3 · answered by The C man 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Place the CD on an uneven surface and use a hammer on it. Works really well when you need to work out some frustrations.
2007-01-04 02:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by rbarc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just scratch the cd over and over.
Or pour finger nail polish remover over the disc.
2007-01-04 02:19:28 · answer #5 · answered by sno 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Break them in half. I've done that with CDs I wanted to keep, by accident, and never could get the info on them back.
2007-01-04 02:24:15 · answer #6 · answered by Elizabeth Howard 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take a lighter and burn the bottom of the CD. Scratch it all up. Break it into pieces.
2007-01-04 02:24:51 · answer #7 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an somewhat good paper shredder will shred CD disks too. however the Polonium you get cracking them by using hand is an somewhat small quantity in comparison to the concetrated quantity that too out the KGB undercover agent.
2016-12-12 03:32:59 · answer #8 · answered by declue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fold the disc in half till it breaks just be careful of flying parts. I do it all the time
2007-01-04 02:18:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scratch them off with sandpaper, or just smash them with a hammer
2007-01-04 02:24:47 · answer #10 · answered by wax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋