Gallery: How to destroy your hard drive

By Andy Smith July 21, 2008, 5:26 AM PDT

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Verity manual hard drive destroyer

Disposing of computer hard drives in a secure and safe way has become a hot topic, especially after the high profile data leaks in the past year.rn

rnWhether it is ID thieves after personal information; or data leaks that could affect business or even national security, making sure data can’t be retrieved from old hard drives is very much on the agenda.rnrn

So bearing this in mind, silicon.com picked some ways to deal with your unwanted hard drives.rnrn

This is the Verity Systems VS7000 manual hard drive destroyer which crushes the hard drive with the turn of a handle. The destroyer bends the hard drive platter so any data on it can never be read again.rnrn

Plus, check out these 10 hard drive disasters.rnrn

Photo credit: Verity

Degausser

Of course, every security professional knows that it’s also recommended practice to wipe your hard drive using one of these bad boys: a degausser.rn

rnThese use electro-magnetism to clear data and render the hard drive unusable. This method is recommended by the National Security Agency in the U.S. for military and government hardware.rn

rnPhoto credit: Tim Ferguson

Acid test

Another method proven to work well is to leave your old hard drive soaking in acid – apparently hydrochloric is best. Leave the hard drive soaking for a couple of hours and the metal will corrode making the device useless.rn

rnPhoto credit: CNET Networks

Donate

For the more philanthropic or environmentally conscious among us, donating old computers to a good cause is an option. Organizations like Computer Aid International will take a hard drive off your hands and put them to good use elsewhere.rn

rnData on your hard drive will be wiped before a fresh operating system and applications are added.rn

rnHere Tony Roberts (left), Computer Aid International CEO, cuts the ribbon on a shipment of PCs delivered to Kenya and hands over the first piece of kit to a pupil at Starehe Boys’ Centre.rn

rnPhoto credit: Will Sturgeon

Nuke it

Or you can nuke it.

By Andy Smith

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