The Great Zero Challenge

[Ian Mason]

On 7 Sep 2008, at 15:32, Zoe O'Connell wrote:

> 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

Curie point.