We store a lot of personal information on hard drives, which we don’t want anyone to have. The problem is that many times we are not aware that, even by formatting, the information can be easily recovered. If you’re thinking of throwing away an old computer or selling it, here’s what to do with your hard drive to prevent your personal files from being copied.
You may not know it, but there are a lot of effective software that can recover most of the information on your hard drive. In addition, there are specialized companies that can do it even if the storage unit has problems. But there are some methods that prevent efficient data recovery.
This way you can make the information on the hard drive unrecoverable
There are easier methods and faster methods to destroy a hard drive. In the case of mechanical hard drives or HDDs , the task is a bit more complex than in SSDs. We’ll tackle HDDs first, and then we’ll look at a strange recommendation to destroy an SSD from a major manufacturer.
We must bear in mind that the information on hard drives is distributed in a “random” manner . This requires quite aggressive methods to destroy the drive, not just poking a few holes in it. You have to unmount the hard drive and remove the platters from the storage drive .
Once we have the HDD disassembled, what we will do is sand them . It is important to do it outside, to prevent the metal from breathing and dirtying the house. We must do it intensely in all the dishes and on both sides. This process will destroy the tracks and the information will become impossible to recover.
Another fairly simple option is to break the plates into small pieces with a hammer. If we use this method, the interesting thing is to distribute the remains and throw them in different places. It does not hurt to be very cautious about this, since some information could still be recovered (even if it is extremely little).
We have a more expeditious and much less recommended method. You may have seen it in the movies and that is putting the HDD in the microwave. Actually this method works quite well, but it is quite dangerous, since it could damage the microwave, it could even explode.
Come on, the easiest and safest option is to use sandpaper or at most, tear it to pieces.
The curious request of Samsung Germany
This is a rather curious case that has to do with an M.2 SSD hard drive . These types of drives are technically and physically very different from HDDs, so the same methods do not work at all. Really, in an SSD with drilling or cutting the memory into several parts, it would be more than enough. But, the user together with Igor’s Lab and, with the consent of Samsung Germany , have gone a step further.
It seems that a German user had performance problems with his SSD. After carrying out different tests required by Samsung, the company was going to take care of the replacement through RMA. The problem is that the user has highlighted to Samsung Germany that there was highly sensitive data inside the drive. No more details have been given, we assume, than for security and privacy.
After a telephone conversation between Samsung Germany and the user, as well as providing some documentation by mail, in the end the company has given him a solution. Since it is true that the SSD had different memory defects and everything was in order, he was told that he could destroy the SSD .
Although they had been told that they will drill the unit, in the end they have opted for a more extreme method . The user together with Igor’s Lab and with the permission of Samsung Germany, have used a radio . The truth is that the video is quite funny and curious, in addition, by destroying the memory chip in this way, the information is 100% unrecoverable.
We are going to say it, although it would not be necessary by logic, but, DO NOT DO IT AT HOME . If your storage unit has problems, send it to RMA and if you have confidential data, talk to the store and they will already manage it with the manufacturer or with whomever it touches. This is a truly special case. If you do this and your unit is under warranty, you will obviously lose it instantly.