![]() Wiping out a hard drive by submerging it in water could cause the electronics within the device to short out, but it won’t remove or make the stored data disappear. It could be recovered using a data retrieval program by cybercriminals or identity thieves. Even if the hard drive appears to no longer work, that doesn’t mean that the data has been erased. Magnetsĭegaussing a hard drive by placing a magnet on the platters can remove or corrupt data, but you’ll need an extremely powerful magnet for it to be effective. With the right tools and computer knowledge, scratched hard drives are still very much recoverable, putting your information security at risk. You might be tempted to use screws or sharp objects to scratch the platters of a hard drive, but this method won’t fully erase the data or destroy the drives. There are also no guarantees that it will permanently remove, erase or wipe out information so it can never be restored. However, acid is extremely corrosive and can burn your skin and contaminate soil when being disposed of. AcidĪcid will destroy a hard drive by dissolving the disk’s motor and casing and it will strip the data from the platters. However, this technique isn’t the best way to destroy the platters since it doesn’t fully crush the drive into small, unreadable pieces. Forceīefore donating or recycling an old computer, you might consider running it over with a vehicle or destroying a laptop hard drive using a hydraulic press. A standard blow torch may also not generate enough heat to destroy the hard drive’s components, leaving your personal information at risk. Burning a device with a blow torch or incinerator will release toxic fumes into the atmosphere, which could be harmful to your health. Fireįire will destroy a hard drive by melting the platter material inside, but it’s not a reliable form of destruction. The risk isn’t worth the reward since it is possible to retrieve erased data on a computer hard drive after the components have been physically destroyed by drilling. However, it is possible to break the drill bit or get injured from pieces of flying glass, metal or ceramic. Drill or ScrewdriverĪ high-power drill, a drill press or a screwdriver and screws can put holes into the casing and platter of a hard drive. However, there is a strong chance that the hard drive’s data can be completely reconstructed, even when smashed with a hammer. These platters will easily shatter when hit with a hammer to render the device unusable. Hard drives are made from materials, such as glass, ceramic or aluminum, which are coated with a thin layer of metal. Here are some commonly used methods that you should reconsider: Hammer Some can be noisy, messy and dangerous, while many DIY techniques will leave parts of the drive menu intact, making your personal information easy to recover and highly vulnerable to theft. Other (Less Effective) Hard Drive Destruction MethodsĪ quick search of the internet will reveal many resourceful solutions for destroying an old hard drive, but not all methods are created equal. It also ensures your organization remains compliant with government privacy laws and avoids hefty fines for improper disposal. With this form of shredding, you’ll have absolute confidence that any private data on the hard drive can never be recovered or stolen. It works by completely grinding up and destroying every single part of a hard drive into small shards, rendering all sections and tracts unreadable. This type of destruction method physically destroys the hard drive using a heavy-duty shredding machine that is specifically built for electronic media. The most effective way to destroy the electronic data on your hard drive is through the process of hard drive shredding. Simply wiping out the equipment with a program or overwriting old files isn’t enough to protect your organization’s information security. Before donating or recycling old PCs and laptops, it’s very important to remove the hard drive and completely destroy it otherwise, cybercriminals, hackers and identity thieves can recover and misuse your sensitive data. From financial records and personal photos to search history and documents, the hard drive inside your computer contains a large amount of confidential data.
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