The Great Zero Challenge

[Zoe O'Connell]

Chris Salter wrote:
> Hello Mary and UKCrypto,
>
> Sunday, September 7, 2008, 9:26:11 AM, you wrote:
>   
>> I have some computers I am reluctant to get rid of because of data on 
>> them (personal - but *I* consider it confidential!)
>>     
>
> 1. If practical deploy one or more suitable disk wiping procedure as
> suggested elsewhere in this thread.
>
> 2. Remove hard disk(s) (wiped or not). [Store disk(s) in safe if you
> are really concerned.] Retain until such time you can attack disk(s)
> with a hammer. [Retain disk fragments indefinitely in safe if you are
> really really concerned.]
>
> 3. Dispose of rest of computer in an environmentally responsible way.

Heating the hard drive sufficiently will demagnetise the platters 
permanantly, even before they begin to melt. I can't remember the 
scientific term for this so I can't find it on google offhand, but I 
seem to recall this is the method many governments and military forces 
use. I'm not sure if a home oven will be hot enough for this but even if 
it is I suspect it's dangerous doing it inside. In the past, lacking a 
proper incinerator, I've simply removed the top of the drive and applied 
a blowtorch to the platters until they melt. Particularly if you're 
doing several drives and have the tools to hand, this is quicker than 
other methods and perhaps not as silly as it might first sound. (Doing 
it on a commercial setting would have health and safety impliciations I 
suspect.)