Computer disposal ---Non Boaty

clyst

clyst

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Having got a redundant computer what is the best / safest way to destroy it . I dont want to take it to the local recycling depot as the computer still contains ,in there some where, personal details and nodoubt card details etc . I guess there are some wizzkids out there who could extract info from a defunct unit and use it to drain my bank account.
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clyst said:
Having got a redundant computer what is the best / safest way to destroy it . I dont want to take it to the local recycling depot as the computer still contains ,in there some where, personal details and nodoubt card details etc . I guess there are some wizzkids out there who could extract info from a defunct unit and use it to drain my bank account.
scared.gif
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take out the HD place on an anvil & hit with the biggest hammer you can lift.repeat as req
 
even better, take that part apart with a screwdriver (it'll be a star drive one) and remove the platter which contains the data (shown below). There are also some incredibly strong magnets in there which are useful on a boat.

Apart from the cage bit your power plugs into (the power supply) there's nothing that can harm you by touching inside the box. Don't ingest though - that'll kill you :D

2765562582_6fce3f16c9.jpg
 
lustyd said:
even better, take that part apart with a screwdriver (it'll be a star drive one) and remove the platter which contains the data (shown below). There are also some incredibly strong magnets in there which are useful on a boat.
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Agree, get the magnets out, they are fascinating to play with, you can waste hours...
 
You can also reformat the hard-drive and still make someone happy with an old computer. Destroying is quite unnecessary.
There must be someone in your surroundings that can help you reformatting the harddrive.
 
aluijten said:
You can also reformat the hard-drive and still make someone happy with an old computer. Destroying is quite unnecessary.
There must be someone in your surroundings that can help you reformatting the harddrive.
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you can format & its still readable until the sections are written over by new data. a new HD is cheap as chips, exchange it then give the PC away smash or Spoil Ground the old one ;)
 
Reformatting doesnt delete the data. The military now overwrite 15 times before destroying for this reason. Believe it or not even if you wipe the drive and fill it with new data the old information can still be recovered quite cheaply.
 
lustyd said:
Reformatting doesnt delete the data. The military now overwrite 15 times before destroying for this reason. Believe it or not even if you wipe the drive and fill it with new data the old information can still be recovered quite cheaply.
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Well known story, yes. Based on ignorance. A single secure (=compete overwrite) erase is sufficient to clean out all data.

Only a quick format has a risk that someone will spend hours on trying to recover data and look for sensitive data. Not very likely for the average Joe.
If a fresh OS install is done as well the risk becomes even smaller. Your kitchen trashcan may contain more secrets.
 
aluijten said:
Well known story, yes. Based on ignorance. A single secure (=compete overwrite) erase is sufficient to clean out all data.

Only a quick format has a risk that someone will spend hours on trying to recover data and look for sensitive data. Not very likely for the average Joe.
If a fresh OS install is done as well the risk becomes even smaller. Your kitchen trashcan may contain more secrets.
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It is not based on ignorance, it is based on years working in the industry and knowing how the technology works. The read/write head is on the end of an arm which is not as accurate as it could be. On each pass it will be on a slightly different track and so reads and writes in a slightly different place. The reads are tuned to only recognise the strongest information, but the other data is still there for many write cycles after deletion. Newer and better read heads can be used to gain access to the data which the one in the disk cannot get to. This requires dissassembly and some skill but trust me, it can be done and is done regularly for military purposes, evidence in court proceedings and for criminal activity.
As I said earlier, military systems which hold important data are now overwritten 15 times before destruction to be on the safe side. Destruction involves an awesome "shredder" btw :). Some of the companies we work with settle for simply crushing whole systems, and others just format the disk. It depends how valuable your data is, but the OP seemed paranoid so I figured I should let them know the facts.
 
Interesting thread drift - here is the NSA policy on SSD :D
a. Sanitization: Sanitize solidstate
devices with the following procedures or
sanitize by smelting in a licensed furnace at 1,600 degrees Celsius or higher or
disintegrate into particles that are nominally 2 millimeter edge length in size using an
NSA/CSS evaluated disintegrator per Reference d. Remove all labels or markings that
indicate previous use or classification.
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lustyd said:
Interesting thread drift - here is the NSA policy on SSD :D
Click to expand...

Another policy dreamed up by a consultant being paid thousands of dollars an hour by an industry gagging to get hold of defence spend dollars.

You have to be incredibly dedicated to retrieve data from a formatted and overwritten hard drive. Especially small format ( laptop drives ). It's atime consuming, specialised and expensive passtime.

As for misalligned heads on 2 inch platters ..... what can I say! As someone has already stated your dustbin and post box contains much much more easily recovered data.

If you are totally paranoid ( or your drive is full of kiddie porn ) remove the drive and hit once with a hammer, hard. Otherwise fully format the drive, overwrite it with one of the pieces of software available and donate the pc to someone who can use it.
 
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Absolutely true - I was just pointing out that writing new data to a hard drive is probably about as effective as a shredder for your post. Neither removes the data but both make it harder to get to.
 
When we moved house last year I found 3 old computers in the loft which I took to the local tip/recycling centre after removing, and beating to death their hard drives. I was very impressed with how physically tough they were, and while I accept that the first hammer blow probably rendered them unreadable, it took quite a bit of effort to actually put a 90 degree bend in the units!

Mind you, it was strangely satisfying...:D
 
If the concern is someone getting your bank account password wouldn't it be a lot less fuss to just change the password and then you can safely give away the computer?
 
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