Render DVDs Unusable?

Posted by AZ Nomad on November 8, 2009, 11:30 am

>Mark 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.
>>> --
>>> ----------
>>> 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.

Posted by Harry K on November 8, 2009, 11:51 am

> >Mark 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.
> >>> --
> >>> ----------
> >>> 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. =A0That'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.

Harry K

Posted by Mark on November 10, 2009, 3:19 pm

> Just remember to do the label side. =A0That'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

Posted by Malcolm Hoar on November 8, 2009, 12:10 pm

>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". |
| malch@malch.com Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted by Douglas Johnson on November 8, 2009, 6:41 pm

>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

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Render DVDs Unusable? - Page 2