Destroying A Hard Drive

[Zacs-Master]

I disposed of two old computers over the weekend having removed the hard drives, I hit them several times with a sledge hammer 9which was, incidentaly, very theraputic!). They didn't break up but were badly damaged. Is there any way someone could get any info off them or am I ok to throw them in the bin?

[craft1948]

You could bury them in the garden............

[ChuckFickens]

Depends how determined somebody was to get the data off (and how much they want to spend!)

I normally drill a few holes through the middle of them which will make them unreadable to all but forensic recovery methods.

[VHG]

If the platters inside are undamaged then a hard disk data recovery company COULD probably get the data off.

However if all the electronics and the "fittings" are damaged then it is unlikely the average "man in the street" could get any data off them.

Note there is software that you can run (before taking the PC apart of course) that can write rubbish data all over the disk multiple times that will remove all (most?) traces of any of your data.

DBAN is one such product (free)

http://www.dban.org/

[Richard1966]

A drill or nail through then into a bucket of sea water for a week.

[Answerprancer]

The best thing to do is open the HDDs up (drill out the screw heads) extract and and cut up the platters with tin snips.

[Zacs-Master]

Thankyou for all your advice.

[MrLomas]

Please excuse my ignorance but unless you work for m.i.5 why the extreme and paranoid behaviour?

[Zacs-Master]

Bank account details and other personal info MrM. Not paranoia, just common sense. I

[MrLomas]

Common sense? Me wasting my time and possibly injuring myself through sharp bits of metal worried about a crime that may never happen?

I'm unaware of any crimes happening due to the hundreds of computers i've got rid of without wiping any information and to my knowledge my bank accounts have never been plundered but if it helps you sleep at night that's a bonus i suppose.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks for your 'help'. Each to his own I suppose.

[MrLomas]

Well there's nothing wrong with being safer than sorry but personally it's not for me.

[Zacs-Master]

Thankyou. For future reference I have filed you under CT.

[MrLomas]

Why because i throw caution to the wind live a stress and care free lifestyle filled with gusto and devoid of paranoia and immune to the daily horror stories of the daily mail and other tabloids?

Maybe you should file me under Ns for non sheep?

[Zacs-Master]

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU&sns=em

[maggiebee]

What on earth do you have on your hard drive Zacs that would make you go to such lengths to destroy it? Skeletons in the cupboard?

[Prudie]

I thought there was documented evidence (which I can't be bothered to look for) that unwiped hard drives are finding their way abroad in quite a lucrative business for the sole purpose of getting people's bank details etc etc??

[Zacs-Master]

Maggie
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4161188/Old-computers-could-easily-fall-victim-to-identity-theft-even-if-they-delete-files.html

[MrLomas]

Maggiebee i see a lot of horror stories the media which appear to cause mass hysteria with many who haven't really done any research and are just following what "everyone else is doing"

I wonder if he also owns an rfid wallet?

[Zacs-Master]

'Mass hysteria' is a long way from just being cautious. I enjoyed it. Strange you should say 'immune to the daily horror stories of the daily mail and other tabloids? ' and then resort to their language.

[MrLomas]

Well prudie this is exactly what i'm talking about "You think there's documented evidence but can't be bothered to look for it" Just like many who follow others with no real evidence to support their often wild behaviour.

Oh here come's the media link, oh it's in the telegraph so it "MUST be true"

Like i've said i've used hundreds if not thousands of computers and to this day my identity hasn't been stolen and my "Riches plundered" so am i just lucky?