Julian OliverDec 7, 2022
Hitachi HDD: Z7K320-250 / 250GB / SATA 3.0Gb/s.
Data erasure method: 50lb Longbow, two arrows at 15 yards.
Show threadBenjamin Balder BachDec 7, 2022

@JulianOliver for anyone watching this, you don't need to use destructive methods such as hammers or arrows or drills.

You can also overwrite your disks and reuse them 💯

Show threadChris OwensDec 7, 2022
@benjaoming @JulianOliver I also doubt you’re securely erasing much of the disk like this. Bend the platters back into shape, and I reckon they’d be mostly readable. You’d (possibly) be surprised the lengths people go to when they really want to recover someone’s data.
Show threadIan Douglas ScottDec 10, 2022

@likesohushhush
@benjaoming @JulianOliver Yeah, it depends on your threat model. If someone isn't specifically after your data it isn't worth that much effort to get data from a random discarded drive, but then the intentional damage might indicate value...

I wonder what data recovery companies charge to recover data from drives damaged in, err, unfortunate longbow accidents.

Although boring, merely zeroing the drive is probably actually more reliable. Could do both though.

Show threadJulian Oliver
@ids1024 @likesohushhush @benjaoming Could've dd'd /dev/urandom to it, but after I shot it platter was bent, spindle popped, and the glass substrate poured out as dust. Run and reliable
Dec 10, 2022 at 4:57pmWeb