I'm looking to dispose of some old hard drives and want to ensure that the data on them is irretrievable. There's a company nearby that offers hard drive destruction services, but they charge a lot. Can using a magnet render hard drives unusable? I want to be certain that the data can't be recovered, especially if I just throw them in the local dump. Any tips or methods for securely disposing of them would be appreciated! 🙂
2 Answers
Honestly, if you're facing a big data security risk, you might consider a more extreme method. Like disassembling the drive and spreading the parts out or even melting the platters down if you're really paranoid. But for most personal use, a drill and some physical destruction should be enough.
Exactly! Just take the extra step if you really think someone might try to recover it.
Using a magnet to try and wipe a hard drive isn't very effective since they have magnetic shielding. It's better to physically destroy them. Drilling a few holes through the drives can be a good method, or you can just smash them with a hammer if you're looking for something more satisfying! Just be cautious, some platters can be glass.
Yeah, I agree! Just make sure to wear eye protection if you go the hammer route.
Ha! It can be fun breaking those drives apart!
Yeah, I wouldn’t go that extreme unless you’ve got sensitive stuff! For most people, smashing is enough.