Data Destruction
Spool from a DLT IV cartridge cut open with a bandsaw.
(Click for more Data Destruction (photo gallery retired) photos…)
While cleaning out the basement (yes, the long-awaited get-rid-of-the-crap-you-don’t-use cleaning) I came across a bunch of old magnetic media which I wanted to render unreadable. I tried a few different methods, and I think that the best is the use of a band saw. As you can see above, DLT cartridges are easily disposed of by removing the spool from the housing and cutting half-way through them with a bandsaw. This turns the whole spool of magnetic ribbon into lengths no longer than ~6 inches. When a bunch of cut tapes are mixed in a box and then tossed like a salad they can be rendered nearly irrecoverable. I don’t think even the big agencies would be too anxious to try and recover data from that.
I also cut into hard drives, from edge of drive to spindle, and in one case cut away one corner of the whole drive. Having to dispose of some ZIP disks and DATs I also sliced into portions of these with the bandsaw before tossing them. ZIP disks would be cut to the hub of the platter, and DATs straight into the side of the tape bearing the full spool until reaching the hub.
I still have to figure out a good way to dispose of lots of both pressed and burned CDs. This too may employ the bandsaw, although a bonfire would work good as well.
CDs: Cheap microwave you don’t care about. If they’ve been burned, you might want to do it outside, and let the fumes out carefully.
Problem is that I’ve got WAY too many to do that. It’s probably a 24″ – 30″ stack of just discs alone.
Do you actually have data that sensitive? (just curious)
Is your personal data that sensitive? The other option is throwing out the whole tapes… I know if I found whole tapes / drives and had a way to read them, i’d see what is there.
I wouldn’t say it was. The most sensitive data I have would be my tax info, and that’s like ten megs, on one drive. logs, pictures, video, software … nothing particularly sensitive, IMO.
I’ve also got email and random over things which have been scattered about for years… I figure it’s much better to be safe with it all.
*nod* And I’d be all about doing it for the fun of it, I was just curious.
He’s throwing away his indiscriminating collection of porn. He gotta do what he’s gotta do :)
Now THAT is a great reason. :D
What about a VHS tape eraser magnet?
I’d have to acquire one, and it’s not as much fun, nor as good.
How could massive electromagnets not be fun?
I must note that that looks like an awful lot of fun to do.
I know that this is a unitasker, but have you thought of something like it or do you think it’s a total waste of money?
It’s just a bit wasteful for something I almost never have to do in quantity. :\