When destroying a hard drive by means of a hammer is it necessary to open the hard drive up completely with the silver discs exposed or can I leave it inside the casing then smash it and have the same results?
2007-01-30 23:10:21 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Here's what we do at work: Drill multiple holes into the drive. After that, take a high power magnet and rub over just to be safe.
2007-01-30 23:15:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the MIT study with the link below you hard drive would be safe from a novice data recovery user. But it could still be accessible with a process called scanning tunneling microscope recovery techniques. So the best way to truly secure your satisfaction with your data being destroyed is to melt your hard drive. Since even a high caliber bullet shooting the hardware would not stop the most hardcore of people to access your data.
If you want pictures to see how this worked the third link below will give you all the guidance you need. So in closing your plan would work but if someone wanted it bad enough and had enough cash they could get the information off the platters even if you beat them with a hammer.
Hope that helps! Good luck in being secure in the future.
2007-01-30 23:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by Tristan P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you want to destroy it? Do you just want to destroy the data? Or do you want to physically destroy it? Anyway, a low level format (zero fill) will destroy the data because you're overwriting it with zeros, hence the term "zero fill". If you want to physically destroy it, thermite will certainly trash it beyond repair. Thermite is a mixture of iron oxide and aluminum powder. It will melt the hard drive into oblivion, literally. As for raising any suspicion.... well.... just don't tell anyone....... And - by the way, DO NOT try this indoors or by yourself and make sure you're about 50 feet away from it and have the fire department en route to you during this endeavor. Seriously, thermite can not only melt the hard drive but it can also melt YOU into oblivion. Edit: Regarding your "Additional Details", just zero fill it.
2016-03-28 22:04:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand the need to physically destroy it.... There are good software packages out there that destroy the data on the drive to the specs used by the department of defense so unless you are an employee of some government alphabet agency or trying to cover some criminal activity you should be able to wipe the drive of any recoverable data. In addition you could be a cheap drive enclosure and use the old hard drive as a backup device. Copy your photos and files to the hard drive wrap it up and store it in the closet...
2007-01-30 23:21:34 · answer #4 · answered by Fremen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A drill works much better. I only use hammers if the drive ticked me off and I want to vent a little frustration. LOL
2007-01-31 00:26:11 · answer #5 · answered by devlin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have sensitive information, best to drill a few holes around the platters. Re-formatting WILL NOT give a complete erase. Data can still be recovered.
2007-01-30 23:50:40 · answer #6 · answered by scott p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
smash it open and smash the silver disk inside.
2007-01-30 23:15:13 · answer #7 · answered by Sporadic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could save yourself a lot of trouble and use boot and nuke - it's free
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
installs on floppy disc, cd and dvd media
just reformatting won't irretrievably destroy the data on the hard disk.
2007-01-30 23:17:41 · answer #8 · answered by zoomjet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
while the silver disk is what has all the information you could have just brought up the command prompt and typed reformat and everything would be gone
2007-01-30 23:14:18 · answer #9 · answered by Game-Guy Pro 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i would open it up to ensure the disks get smashed propley
2007-01-30 23:19:47 · answer #10 · answered by grotpig 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋