SwiftOnSecurityDec 31, 2022

Fun fact: Windows includes an HDD overwrite functionality. (Note: This won't hardware-level wipe SSDs)
(Also, don't do this you'll probably do it wrong and delete all your data.)

diskpart.exe
list disk
select disk #
clean all

It writes 0's to all logical sectors on the disk. But this isn't the same as all physical sectors on an HDD, and nothing much guaranteed on an SSD. You need to (also) use ATA SECURE ERASE to do that.

But if you have drives you want to dispose and aren't paranoid it's what I did to go through 15 old disks in my closet before smashing them up with a hammer. (Just the hammer works fine too)

Show threadSwiftOnSecurityDec 31, 2022

The thing about data storage is that they are so incredibly intricate and low-level complicated, just giving a HDD or SSD some really solid whacks with a hammer that messes up the internals a bit makes it functionally impossible to recover.

And Google and Microsoft and Amazon and NSA don't software-wipe hard drives they physically destroy them.

Show threadQueDec 31, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity drums full of hard drives straight into shredders. It’s a sight to behold.
Show threadThat Anonymous CowardDec 31, 2022

@BabblingGeek @SwiftOnSecurity

But I could use all of those magnets on the fridge!!!

Show threadShanya (Over at BlueSky)

@That_AC But consider this:

sharp magnetic putty

Dec 31, 2022 at 11:35pmWeb
Show threadThat Anonymous CowardDec 31, 2022

@Almafeta

Now I want to know how many drives you can feed into a shredder before the magnetgoo kills it.