Why Should You Destroy Your Hard Drive?

A typical laptop or desktop computer hard drive may include information about your Social Security number and credit card number, as well as bank account numbers and even passwords and logins to websites. The information could remain on the hard drive, even if the drive is "erased" or reformatted with the help of data-wiping software.

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 ensure that all data stored on the drives will be erased completely and will be inaccessible to thieves. It is also important to keep in mind that when your drive is home to photographs, music, or any other items with sentimental value, make certain to back it onto a different hard drive prior to starting this destruction procedure.

How to Destroy a Computer: Data-Wiping Program?

The first method to erase the data off your drive is to use the data-wiping software. This is a good option if you wish to make the drive usable but erase the data. You can make use of Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN), available in the form of a program that operates off USB flash drives and a different version that runs on either a DVD or CD. DBAN is a well-known program with security experts.

But, regardless of how comprehensive a data-wiping software is, one way to ensure that the data on a hard drive is not recoverable is to make the disk unpinnable.

Physically Destroying Your Hard Drive

If you are disposing of an old computer, there's only one method to safely erase the data that is stored on your hard disk: destroy it with a magnetic disc (also known as an "adjacent platter) inside.

For starters, find the location of your hard drive inside your computer. It may be necessary to search for your specific model if you do not see the drive. Then, you can use a suitable size screwdriver to take out the screws that you are able to access on your computer.

Open the casing for your hard drive. It's basically the loosening of a number of screws in various designs based on the model and model of the hard drive. There are often screws concealed beneath labels, which means you may need to go looking for them.

With the hard drive disconnected from the computer and with your eye protection in place, wear eye protection, and strike the drive with different sides until it begins to pop open. When it's open, take out the silver platter's disc from the inside. Dab, scratch, and dent the surface. Numerous lighter taps using both a hammer's claw as well as the peen a hammer will be enough to damage the hard drive.

There is a myriad of other creative methods to destroy your hard drive, like lighting it on fire or cutting it using a saw, or even magnetically securing it. Simply scratching your hard drive and pounding it using a hammer can accomplish the task!

Once you're done, put the pieces in boxes and take them to your local electronics recycling facility.