I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
-- ---------- CWLee Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and promote for performance, not preferences.
> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want > to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a > quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" > holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What about > placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the other > half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
Hi, Shredding is easy. Or cut it into couple pieces with scissors.
> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > sensitive nature.
You misspelled 'porn'.
> I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want > to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a > quick, cheap, easy way to do that?
Ha! Pick two.
> I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" > holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What > about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the > other half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
Easiest way is to write "AOL Free Trial" on the disk and toss it in the garbage. Nobody is going to touch it.
Beyond that, anything even mildly destructive is probably good enough. (Break it in half, drill some holes, go at it with the torch or 80 grit, etc. Just for reference, the NIST recommendations: http://www.d3services.com/images/PDF/nistsp800-88_rev1.pdf
> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want > to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a > quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" > holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What about > placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the other > half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
> -- > ---------- > CWLee > Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred > cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and > promote for performance, not preferences.
My new shredder handles CDs, but before that I used a sharpie to scribble all over the CD. Remember that CDs aren't like old records, they are recorded from the inside out, so be sure to mark over the center area of the CD. scratching with a nail of knife would add an extra level of security..
With my new shredder, I still scribble on them before shredding - paranoid maybe, but rather be sure I don't lose my personal data!
> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want > to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a > quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" > holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What > about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the > other half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
I wrap CD's in heavy duty foil, put in oven for about 15 min at 425. Take em out, mash up the mess and put in garbage when cool. None have burned or given off smoke :o)
"CWLee" <cdubya...@post.harvard.edu> wrote: > I have a number of DVDs containing > computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away > the older ones, but first I want to > render the data on them irretrievable. > Can anyone here recommend a quick, > cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard > that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them > does the trick, but that is just a rumor > to me. What about placing them, one at > a time, in a vice, half clamped tight > and the other half then struck hard with > a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports > appreciated.
If you need a vise and a hammer to break a DVD in half, you might want to get your ass to the gym.
> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want > to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a > quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" > holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What > about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the > other half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
Microwave oven. Try it, you'll like the light show.
>> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a >> sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I >> want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here >> recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that >> drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just >> a rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, >> half clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a >> hammer - hoping to break it in half?
>> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
> Microwave oven. Try it, you'll like the light show.
I was going to suggest that. Try one first. It really gives some kewl visual effects. (Google for it; for some reason, there are *hundreds* of web pages out there dealing with the subject of nuking CDs.)
-- Who needs a junta or a dictatorship when you have a Congress blowing Wall Street, using the media as a condom?
> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want > to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a > quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" > holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What > about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the > other half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
For yourself, or for a client? If there is HIPPA info on them, your client's insurance company/lawyers may prefer you take them to a commercial destruction facility, so they have a report in the file if they get audited. But if it is your own stuff, a metal container and acetone or even gasoline, should work fine. Production destruction of DVDs, with audit trail, is done by disk duplicator from hell. It has a cutting head, and shaves down the metallized side, but leaves the s/n of disk on the hub legible, so it can be logged as destroyed, by 2 people. Costs a whole lot of money, but works very fast on a couple hundred disks per hopper load. I wouldn't run them through a consumer-grade shredder. Sure, it'll do a few, but it is a hell of a stress on the teeth. If you only have a few, get out the tin snips, but wear gloves and goggles. Those shards are sharp.
Me, I just scratch them and snap them. But then again, the stuff I throw out, every 5 years or so, isn't likely to interest people who can reconstruct quarter-circle sections of the data tracks with a laser scanner and reassemble the whole pile into meaningful data.
> I have a number of DVDs containing > computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away > the older ones, but first I want to > render the data on them irretrievable. > Can anyone here recommend a quick, > cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard > that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them > does the trick, but that is just a rumor > to me. What about placing them, one at > a time, in a vice, half clamped tight > and the other half then struck hard with > a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports > appreciated.
> -- > ---------- > CWLee > Former slayer of dragons; practice now > limited to sacred > cows. Believing we should hire for > quality, not quotas, and > promote for performance, not > preferences.
On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:57:06 -0800, CWLee <cdubya...@post.harvard.edu> wrote: >I have a number of DVDs containing >computer backup information of a >sensitive nature. I plan to throw away >the older ones, but first I want to >render the data on them irretrievable. >Can anyone here recommend a quick,
3 seconds on high in a microwave oven.
Put a disposable cup under the dvd to avoid any mess from melting plastic.
>> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a >> sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I >> want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here >> recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that >> drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just a >> rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half >> clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a hammer - >> hoping to break it in half?
>> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
>> -- >> ---------- >> CWLee >> Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred >> cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and >> promote for performance, not preferences.
> My new shredder handles CDs, but before that I used a sharpie to > scribble all over the CD. Remember that CDs aren't like old records, > they are recorded from the inside out, so be sure to mark over the > center area of the CD. scratching with a nail of knife would add an > extra level of security..
> With my new shredder, I still scribble on them before shredding - > paranoid maybe, but rather be sure I don't lose my personal data!
Hu, If that is the method, then coarse sand paper or memery stone is easier.
I take a pair of bandage shears (or compound action tin snips). Cut at radius to the disk, take about 1/3 of the disk out. Throw out the 1/3 of the disk in this weeks trash. Throw 1/3 in next week's trash. Throw the other third in the trashbin when you stop to gas up, next time.
Only an Act of God will then recover the data.
-- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .
"CWLee" <cdubya...@post.harvard.edu> wrote in message
I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just a rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
-- ---------- CWLee Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and promote for performance, not preferences.
> I have a number of DVDs containing > computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away > the older ones, but first I want to > render the data on them irretrievable. > Can anyone here recommend a quick, > cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard > that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them > does the trick, but that is just a rumor > to me. What about placing them, one at > a time, in a vice, half clamped tight > and the other half then struck hard with > a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports > appreciated.
> -- > ---------- > CWLee > Former slayer of dragons; practice now > limited to sacred > cows. Believing we should hire for > quality, not quotas, and > promote for performance, not > preferences.
CWLee wrote: > I have a number of DVDs containing > computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away > the older ones, but first I want to > render the data on them irretrievable.
Chop them up like an old credit card, those EMT shears do a good job. If the data is really sensitive then make the pieces small and divide them between several trash containers.
Chop them up like an old credit card, those EMT shears do a good job. If the data is really sensitive then make the pieces small and divide them between several trash containers.
>Easiest way is to write "AOL Free Trial" on the disk and toss it in the >garbage. Nobody is going to touch it.
I used to get a lot of those. I'd cut it with a wire cutter and label the place "consumer protection notch".
>Beyond that, anything even mildly destructive is probably good enough. >(Break it in half, drill some holes, go at it with the torch or 80 grit, >etc. Just for reference, the NIST recommendations: >http://www.d3services.com/images/PDF/nistsp800-88_rev1.pdf
> I have a number of DVDs containing > computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away > the older ones, but first I want to > render the data on them irretrievable. > Can anyone here recommend a quick, > cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard > that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them > does the trick, but that is just a rumor > to me. What about placing them, one at > a time, in a vice, half clamped tight > and the other half then struck hard with > a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports > appreciated.
> --
All the methods posted work. You can also run them through a decent quality shredder.
My shredder cost less than $50 and makes nice plastic confetti out of them.
On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:57:06 -0800, CWLee wrote: > I have a number of DVDs containing > computer backup information of a > sensitive nature. I plan to throw away > the older ones, but first I want to > render the data on them irretrievable. > Can anyone here recommend a quick, > cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard > that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them > does the trick, but that is just a rumor > to me. What about placing them, one at > a time, in a vice, half clamped tight > and the other half then struck hard with > a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
> Suggestions and experience reports > appreciated.
With all due respect to everyone, why does anyone think he is important enough that someone else would go out of their away to retrieve his data from dvd's that have not been mutilated enough? It's not going to happen.
-- "Sects, sects, sects! That's all you religion majors ever think about." -- Garth Snyder
RocinanteREMOVET...@gmail.com 11/8/2009 11:01:44 AM
>>> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a >>> sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I >>> want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here >>> recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that >>> drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just a >>> rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half >>> clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a hammer - >>> hoping to break it in half?
>>> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
>>> -- >>> ---------- >>> CWLee >>> Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred >>> cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and >>> promote for performance, not preferences.
>> My new shredder handles CDs, but before that I used a sharpie to >> scribble all over the CD. Remember that CDs aren't like old records, >> they are recorded from the inside out, so be sure to mark over the >> center area of the CD. scratching with a nail of knife would add an >> extra level of security..
>> With my new shredder, I still scribble on them before shredding - >> paranoid maybe, but rather be sure I don't lose my personal data! > Hu, > If that is the method, then coarse sand paper or memery stone is easier.
True! But I generally keep those in my workshop and not my computer room! Bottom line - any way you can destroy the surface of the CD or DVD will render it useless.
>>> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a >>> sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I >>> want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here >>> recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that >>> drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just a >>> rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half >>> clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a hammer - >>> hoping to break it in half?
>>> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
>>> -- >>> ---------- >>> CWLee >>> Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred >>> cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and >>> promote for performance, not preferences.
>> My new shredder handles CDs, but before that I used a sharpie to >> scribble all over the CD. Remember that CDs aren't like old records, >> they are recorded from the inside out, so be sure to mark over the >> center area of the CD. scratching with a nail of knife would add an >> extra level of security..
>> With my new shredder, I still scribble on them before shredding - >> paranoid maybe, but rather be sure I don't lose my personal data! >Hu, >If that is the method, then coarse sand paper or memery stone is easier.
Just remember to do the label side. That's where the data lives.
> >>> I have a number of DVDs containing computer backup information of a > >>> sensitive nature. I plan to throw away the older ones, but first I > >>> want to render the data on them irretrievable. Can anyone here > >>> recommend a quick, cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard that > >>> drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them does the trick, but that is just a > >>> rumor to me. What about placing them, one at a time, in a vice, half > >>> clamped tight and the other half then struck hard with a hammer - > >>> hoping to break it in half?
> >>> Suggestions and experience reports appreciated.
> >>> -- > >>> ---------- > >>> CWLee > >>> Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred > >>> cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and > >>> promote for performance, not preferences.
> >> My new shredder handles CDs, but before that I used a sharpie to > >> scribble all over the CD. Remember that CDs aren't like old records, > >> they are recorded from the inside out, so be sure to mark over the > >> center area of the CD. scratching with a nail of knife would add an > >> extra level of security..
> >> With my new shredder, I still scribble on them before shredding - > >> paranoid maybe, but rather be sure I don't lose my personal data! > >Hu, > >If that is the method, then coarse sand paper or memery stone is easier.
> Just remember to do the label side. That's where the data lives.- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
It lives under a couple layers of protection also. I don't think scribblign on it does a thing.