Render DVDs Unusable?
CWLee
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.
Tony Hwang
>
> 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.
>
Shredding is easy. Or cut it into couple pieces with scissors.
Mike Paulsen
>
> 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
Mark
"CWLee" <cdub...@post.harvard.edu> wrote in message
news:Qa6dndDXmrr9lGvX...@earthlink.com...
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!
nor...@earthlink.net
>
> 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.
>
Take em out, mash up the mess and put in garbage when cool. None have
burned or given off smoke :o)
Smitty Two
"CWLee" <cdub...@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.
The Daring Dufas
>
> 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.
TDD
David Nebenzahl
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?
- harvested from Usenet
Larry Fishel
former, a shredder is quick and easy. If the latter, the microwave or
the BBQ.
aemeijers
>
> 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.
--
aem sends...
ransley
Stick them in a microwave, its fun.
AZ Nomad
>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.
Tony Hwang
If that is the method, then coarse sand paper or memery stone is easier.
Stormin Mormon
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" <cdub...@post.harvard.edu> wrote in message
news:Qa6dndDXmrr9lGvX...@earthlink.com...
I have a number of DVDs containing
Stormin Mormon
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Mike Paulsen" <mpau...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:%6oJm.20426$gg6....@newsfe25.iad...
You misspelled 'porn'.
JIMMIE
Stupid uwave tricks can be a lot of fun
Jimmie
DGDevin
> 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.
Stormin Mormon
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"DGDevin" <dgd...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:DbGdnSdUy8-Q-WvX...@earthlink.com...
Mark Lloyd
<mpau...@charter.net> wrote:
[snip]
>
>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
--
47 days until the winter solstice celebration
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us
"How could you ask me to believe in God when there's
absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster
Colbyt
> news:Qa6dndDXmrr9lGvX...@earthlink.com...
>
> 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 $50 and makes nice plastic confetti out of them.
Colbyt
Rocinante
> I have a number of DVDs containing
> computer backup information of a
> sensitive nature. I plan to throw away
> the older ones, but first I want to
> render the data on them irretrievable.
> Can anyone here recommend a quick,
> cheap, easy way to do that? I've heard
> that drilling 2 or 3 1/4" holes in them
> does the trick, but that is just a rumor
> to me. What about placing them, one at
> a time, in a vice, half clamped tight
> and the other half then struck hard with
> a hammer - hoping to break it in half?
>
> Suggestions and experience reports
> appreciated.
With all due respect to everyone, why does anyone think he is important
enough that someone else would go out of their away to retrieve his data
from dvd's that have not been mutilated enough? It's not going to happen.
--
"Sects, sects, sects! That's all you religion majors ever think about."
-- Garth Snyder
Rocinante...@gmail.com
11/8/2009 11:01:44 AM
Harry L
<cayoung61**spamblock##@hotmail.com> wrote:
[snip]
>Only an Act of God will then recover the data.
>
[snip]
P[R] = P[A] * SQR(-2.3) / C
C = e - .999999999
P[A] = R[G] * N
N = pi * SQR(-1)
R[G] = SQR(C * -1) * K
K = SQR(-2) * (C * (1 / C) - 1)
Mark
"Tony Hwang" <drag...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:C3qJm.8299$_b5....@newsfe22.iad...
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.
AZ Nomad
Just remember to do the label side. That's where the data lives.
Harry K
> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:30:54 -0700, Tony Hwang <drago...@shaw.ca> wrote:
> >Mark wrote:
>
> >> "CWLee" <cdubya...@post.harvard.edu> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
It lives under a couple layers of protection also. I don't think
scribblign on it does a thing.
Harry K
Harry K
Dunno about the discs but the 'drill a hole" is the recommended method
for destroying hard drives.
Harry K
Malcolm Hoar
>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..
Yes, the recording is written beneath the surface. Damaging the
surface (with a sharpie or sandpaper) does not destroy the data;
it just makes it hard/impossible to read it. However, in theory,
at least, the surface could be reground and polished such that
data recovery would be possible.
So, I scratch them up with a utility knife -- deeply enough
to reach the recording surface, and then cut 'em up with
snips.
For a larger quantity, I'd probably melt them down using a
camping stove, BBQ or blow torch. I would do this outdoors
to avoid the risk of fumes etc.
--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| ma...@malch.com Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
aemeijers
> At different buildings, and sent out on different days.
>
Are EMT shears any different for electrician/LAN/phone guy shears? Do
yours have the little notch for cutting/stripping wire?
The belt holsters look the same, and just watching them in use, I can't
see any difference.
--
aem sends, actually curious
Brandon McCombs
>
> 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.
>
Bend them with your hand until they splinter into a thousand pieces, or
put them in a microwave for about 4 seconds each. Or do both.
Oren
<turnk...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Dunno about the discs but the 'drill a hole" is the recommended method
>for destroying hard drives.
The NIST link above (gleaned) "Optical mass storage media, including
compact disks (CD, CD-RW, CD-R, CD-ROM), optical disks (DVD), and
magneto-optic (MO) disks must be destroyed by pulverizing,"
Some government agencies require "old/dead hard drives" be sent to
"central office" for degaussing, before destruction.
Me! I think of Thermite...
Douglas Johnson
>My new shredder handles CDs, but before that I used a sharpie to scribble
>all over the CD.
Alcohol cleans sharpie off very easily. My shredder turns CDs into tiny bright
confetti. I'd bet against NSA getting data off it. -- Doug
Oren
Heck my shredder has slot just for disk media - even cross-cuts :-))
Pete C.
I'd bet *on* the NSA or other similarly equipped groups being able to
get data off of your CD/DVD confetti. Granted the data at the cut points
is unlikely to be recoverable, but given the data density of the media,
each piece of confetti would probably yield a sizable amount of data in
their hands. If you need true security, you need to totally destroy the
data layer, probably via chemical treatment of the confetti bits, or
incineration of the remains.
Oren
wrote:
Agree. First they need the "confetti".
aemeijers
with the pits is dust, ain't nothing gonna put it back together.
--
aem sends...
Josh
My crosscut shredder's output gets mixed into 2 bags, and some of it
gets thrown in with the kitchen garbage each week. You'd have to not
only be willing to paw through our raw chicken guts, but do so for
several weeks in a row to get most of a given document or disc. If
you're that interested, have at it, I say...
Josh
CWLee
As the OP I'd like to thank all you guys
for the suggestions, serious and
otherwise. I took a pair of snips from
my garage and cut all the DVDs in half.
One half of each of them was then
deposited into a smelly and moist
dumpster behind a seafood restaurant,
and the other half were placed in the
trash bin at a Walmart about 20 miles
away. Task completed. Thanks again.
terry
They burn too have been told! I think there was an old CD/DVD in a bag
of paper/cardboard scrap used recently to light the wood stove.
sa...@dog.com
Now that you have revealed where they are, you need to go retrieve
them and put them elsewhere. Loose lips...
nor...@earthlink.net
HeyBub
> 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.
Just about any physical disruption (i.e., just a scratch) will render the CD
unintelligible to even the most determined data thief.
As for the NSA and such deciphering that which is on an even more ambitious
destruction path, why bother? The government can simply demand that you tell
them what was on the media you went to extraordinary lengths to destroy.
Oh yes they can... oh yes you will.
Stormin Mormon
NSA is busy rebuilding your data. I'm telling yah, those
NSA guys are really good.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
<nor...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:hZqdne3EOJPykmXX...@earthlink.com...
Stormin Mormon
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"aemeijers" <aeme...@att.net> wrote in message
news:zNKdnewRVeeAlmrX...@giganews.com...
Smitty Two
"Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61**spamblock##@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Should have made the dumps on two different days. Now the
> NSA is busy rebuilding your data. I'm telling yah, those
> NSA guys are really good.
Are those the guys that tracked Redford and Newman across solid rock?
Pete C.
Yes, I believe that's pretty much what they do with hard drive platters
that contain classified data - Grind the mag layer off then shred the
substrate.
Red Green
Smitty Two
Tony Hwang <drag...@shaw.ca> wrote:
> If that is the method, then coarse sand paper or memery stone is easier.
A memery stone? Is that some kind of newfangled hybrid word?
Van Chocstraw
>
> 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.
>
Cut them in half with tin snips or use a scribe and put a deep scratch
across the tracks.
Van Chocstraw
>
> 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.
>
joevan
Seems to be a good way of getting rid of a lot of useless crap.
joevan
wrote:
A little more on thermite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPAYZMzGMwQ&NR=1
aemeijers
a scrap yard jealous, and then throw the whole damn thing in a chipper
mill. No, I'm not joking. Yes, I do work for them.
--
aem sends...
cl...@snyder.on.ca
wrote:
No marker or shredder required, just put thumb on one edge, fingers
on the other and squeeze. It will bend like a taco, and then "explode"
into a hundred shards., and split into 2 separate layers with the
"aluminum foil" layer flying in the wind.
Jerry - OHIO
Jerry
Pete C.
I expect it varies with the classification level of the data. The grind
and shred routine is / was indeed used on some HDD media that contained
classified data.
Stormin Mormon
behind. Like popcorn, in Hansel and Gretel.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Smitty Two" <prest...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:prestwhich-C76F5...@newsfarm.iad.highwinds-media.com...
Van Chocstraw
Mark
> Just remember to do the label side. That's where the data lives.-
that is true for a CD, but for DVDs the data lives inside between the
two layers of plastic...
Mark
Steve Daniels
compelled "CWLee" <cdub...@post.harvard.edu>, to say:
> 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.
Give them about ten seconds in a microwave oven. Maybe not even
that long.
--
Howdya like that... we started playing guitar to impress the chicks and wind
up talkin' fingernails with old men.
Ray Boyce - 9.27.09
AZ Nomad
>On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:57:06 -0800, against all advice, something
>compelled "CWLee" <cdub...@post.harvard.edu>, to say:
>> 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.
>Give them about ten seconds in a microwave oven. Maybe not even
>that long.
Then buy a new tray for your microwave.
Phisherman
<cdub...@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.
A disc shredder does the job quick. If you choose to shatter them
with a hammer wear eye protection. A propane torch will melt them,
but may produce toxic fumes if you allow them to burn.
hal...@aol.com
bomb.
then while your cleaning up the nuke waste contamination, pick up
whats left of the discs, encase in concrete and send to a nuke waste
repository, like cheyenne mountain.
somewhere in the next million years the mountain will be breached, the
nuke waste released will kill everyone in the area, then the
yellowstone old faithful volcanoe will erupt blowing whats left of
your discs on a trip to mars......
archeaologists there will unerath them in 2 million years..........
by then no one will have a cd reader.so your data may be secure
Phisherman
<cdub...@post.harvard.edu> wrote:
>
>As the OP I'd like to thank all you guys
>for the suggestions, serious and
>otherwise. I took a pair of snips from
>my garage and cut all the DVDs in half.
>One half of each of them was then
>deposited into a smelly and moist
>dumpster behind a seafood restaurant,
>and the other half were placed in the
>trash bin at a Walmart about 20 miles
>away. Task completed. Thanks again.
>
Not at all within government specs. You have failed CIA procedures.