Tayls Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Slightly OT - but I have purchased a new laptop recently because my old one has packed in, and I am keen to destroy it properly so to stop people taking the HDDs out and accessing my data! As such, I have also decided to get rid of my old desktop that has been in my loft for the past 8years or so. What's the best way to destroy the HDD? I have taken out the disks, hit them with a hammer and screwdriver to the point that I have created holes in them... is that enough? Haha. Surely there is a better way that doesn't involve beating the hell out of them? Getting to the disks is a mission!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted July 23, 2017 Administrator Share Posted July 23, 2017 12 hours ago, Tayls said: What's the best way to destroy the HDD? I have taken out the disks, hit them with a hammer and screwdriver to the point that I have created holes in them... is that enough? Haha. Surely there is a better way that doesn't involve beating the hell out of them? Getting to the disks is a mission!! Just use a wipe program. They write multiple times to the entire disk so that nothing is left to recover. If you are asking this then I have to assume that you encrypt your disks with a good key, so they've got to crack that too. If someone is targeting you and has the resources to read magnetic residual images they would have just popped round while you're out and imaged the disk. Or used targeted malware. Or compromised an ad network on your favourite sites. Or compromised your favourite sites. I assume you have nothing on your network scanning for data ex filtration. I'm not going to ask the obvious, but if you are storing things that someone else wants. Don't keep them on a computer in your home unless you trust your crypto and your data handling practices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayls Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, limpid said: Just use a wipe program. They write multiple times to the entire disk so that nothing is left to recover. If you are asking this then I have to assume that you encrypt your disks with a good key, so they've got to crack that too. If someone is targeting you and has the resources to read magnetic residual images they would have just popped round while you're out and imaged the disk. Or used targeted malware. Or compromised an ad network on your favourite sites. Or compromised your favourite sites. I assume you have nothing on your network scanning for data ex filtration. I'm not going to ask the obvious, but if you are storing things that someone else wants. Don't keep them on a computer in your home unless you trust your crypto and your data handling practices. Not sure if it is worth popping this into it's own thread Limpid on data security of something (unless there is one already) Re write progs, what do you recommend? Assuming the best most reliable ones carry a cost. The HDD I have destroyed already was from my old desktop. And I haven't used that since I was about 19/20 (8years ago), so I doubt I would have been following best practices at that age. Are the holes in the disks enough for that particular HDD? I might have a go at using the write programme for my laptop. Saves destroying the poor bugger. Edited July 23, 2017 by Tayls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted July 23, 2017 Administrator Share Posted July 23, 2017 26 minutes ago, Tayls said: Re write progs, what do you recommend? Assuming the best most reliable ones carry a cost. . I don't recommend anything. I crypto anything on disk. 26 minutes ago, Tayls said: The HDD I have destroyed already was from my old desktop. And I haven't used that since I was about 19/20 (8years ago), so I doubt I would have been following best practices at that age. Are the holes in the disks enough for that particular HDD? I might have a go at using the write programme for my laptop. Saves destroying the poor bugger. If someone has enough resources they can reassemble some of the data from the intact parts of the platters. It is pretty hard to recommend a defence without knowing at least something about who you are defending against. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayls Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 It's just in general really. I'm a bit para about my info being out there etc - for example, I shred my letters properly and won't throw anything with name/address into the bin. I see people just giving laptops/computers away all the time, and I ask if they have cleared out the data and they always respond with 'no'... I find it crazy. I need the space in my house now as well, so it is time to dispose of my old crap. But I need to do it properly. I've decided to use garden clippers on the platters and cut them into pieces. Should hopefully be enough?!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted July 23, 2017 Administrator Share Posted July 23, 2017 52 minutes ago, Tayls said: It's just in general really. I'm a bit para about my info being out there etc - for example, I shred my letters properly and won't throw anything with name/address into the bin. I see people just giving laptops/computers away all the time, and I ask if they have cleared out the data and they always respond with 'no'... I find it crazy. I need the space in my house now as well, so it is time to dispose of my old crap. But I need to do it properly. I've decided to use garden clippers on the platters and cut them into pieces. Should hopefully be enough?!! Vary paranoid . You're almost certainly giving more away about yourself by visiting websites with ads on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villakram Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Anything Linux, then just dd the life out of it. Then fire of course or a hardcore shredder. Otherwise just wipe everything off the disk, de-fragment and then write some legally owned dvd to it until full, rinse & repeat. This may not overwrite all sectors or do so in a reliable manner... so always add the platters to a fire as a final step. SSDs, straight to fire/shredder. If you have any important personal info. on it (medical/tax/insurance/banking/weird porn etc.), then under no circumstances entrust the destruction of said drive to a 3rd party. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PompeyVillan Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 I've used Dareks Boot and Nuke before, which is bundled with Hirens. Seemed to work. That a few holes in the HDD should do the trick for a home PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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