Why You Should Destroy Your Hard Drive?

A typical laptop or desktop computer hard drive could include the social security numbers of your family members, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and even passwords and logins to websites. The information could remain on the drive even when the drive is "erased" or reformatted with an application for data wiping.

If you are planning to donate or recycle your computer, it is necessary to completely erase or wipe all hard disks. In doing this, it will make sure that the information on the drives will be erased completely and will be inaccessible to thieves. Additionally, it is crucial to be aware that in the event that your hard drive has photographs, music or any other items with sentimental value, you should be certain to back these items to a different drive prior to starting your destruction.

How to Destroy a Computer: Data-Wiping Program?

The best way to remove the data off the hard disk is by using an application for data wiping. This is a good option if you wish to use the drive, but the data is erased. You can make use of Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) that comes with an option that runs on USB flash drives and a different version that is run by either a DVD or CD. DBAN has earned a good reputation in the field of security.

However, regardless of how comprehensive a data-wiping software is, it is the sole way you can know that the data on a hard drive is irrecoverable is to render the disk inaccessible.

Physically Destroying Your Hard Drive

If you are disposing of a computer that is no longer in use, there's only one method to safely erase all the data in the drive's memory: by destroying the disk (also known as an "adjacent platter) inside.

First, determine the location of your hard drive in your computer. It may be necessary to search for your specific model if you're having difficulty finding the drive. Use a properly-sized screwdriver to get rid of all screws you can on the computer.

Open the casing of your hard drive. It's essentially unwinding a multitude of screws with different configurations based on the brand and model of the hard drive. Sometimes, screws are under the labels, so you'll need to start looking around.

With the hard drive removed from your computer and with your eye protection in place, keep striking the hard drive from different sides until it begins to expand. When it's open, take out the silver platter's disc from the inside. Dent, ding, and scratch the platter. Numerous lighter taps using both the hammer's claw as well as the peen hammer will cause irreparable damage to the hard drive.

There is a myriad of other creative methods to destroy your hard drive, such as lighting it on fire by cutting it up using a saw or even magnetically securing it. But just scratching the disk and pounding it with a hammer is enough to accomplish the task!

After you're finished take the parts in a box and drop them off at your local electronics recycling facility.