I recall that when I worked in the NHS last year there were some machines
that were being returned to the manufacturer and there was some software
that was used to presumably write rubbish on the whole HD before being
returned.
I have two old HD's which I don't use any more. I have got rid of all the
other kit so that I can't even use them now. I don't have an Aga.
They are not taking up much space but I don't want to get rid of them
because they have all my personal correspondence on, job applications etc,
and I might just as well let Benjy the Binman loose on it.
Nick Landau
----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Howarth" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Data Destruction
> In Preston there is a company called recycle.co.uk based in Red Scar
> Industrial Estate. They process a lot of old computers, recycling the
> parts
> and shipping old but usable systems to 3rd world countries. They have a
> degaussing facility that can be used by anyone.
>
> I would never recommend sending a malfunctioning HD away for repair. Such
> is
> the low cost of these things these days that I would (and have) buy a new
> one and dispose of the old one. I hit them several times with a large
> hammer, then place them in the middle of my patio chimnea thing when we
> light a fire. When it's cooled it goes to the tip.
>
> It's all about balancing risks, and I am happy that the data on such a
> disk
> is "wiped" enough to ensure that it cannot be read and that the risk of a
> someone (a) wanting to read it and (b) actually going to the lengths they
> would have to, to do this is acceptable.
>
> Also, for anyone wanting to ensure that deleted files on working hard
> disks
> are properly deleted then I would recommend a free product called "Eraser"
> which I have used for some time and erases disks to US Department of
> Defense
> specifications.
>
> It can be found on the www.download.com site, tiny url =
> http://tinyurl.com/dwuz4
>
> Simon Howarth
>
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All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
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