Best way to destroy a harddrive's data in about 30 seconds?

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darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.
 

RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
0
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Why do that when for under 50$ and a flower pot you can have your own thermite destruction kit :p
 

CrazyLazy

Platinum Member
Jun 21, 2008
2,124
0
0
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Sounds great except for the arson, and possibly killing other people if you don't live alone.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: RichardE
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Why do that when for under 50$ and a flower pot you can have your own thermite destruction kit :p

I'm under the assumption I'm in a normal house which usually wouldn't have thermite handy. :p. And if I did, I would do that but I'd still burn the house down. If my freedom for the next 30 years is on the line, I'm sure as hell going to do everything I can in 30 secs to not only destroy that hdd but to buy more for it to burn to hell and to cast doubt that anything will ever be found by the FBI.


edit: hypothetically speaking of course ;)
 

RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
0
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: RichardE
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Why do that when for under 50$ and a flower pot you can have your own thermite destruction kit :p

I'm under the assumption I'm in a normal house which usually wouldn't have thermite handy. :p. And if I did, I would do that but I'd still burn the house down. If my freedom for the next 30 years is on the line, I'm sure as hell going to do everything I can in 30 secs to not only destroy that hdd but to buy more for it to burn to hell and to cast doubt that anything will ever be found by the FBI.


edit: hypothetically speaking of course ;)

I would just set up a few bowls of thermite around the house wired to a central switch that can be activated with a big red button (make sure its red), which also dumps the 20 gallons of gasoline you had set up in a wall somewhere...than run out. Might as well make it good :p

 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Sounds great except for the arson, and possibly killing other people if you don't live alone.

Well the OP did not specifically mention whether I'm living with other people or where I'm living for that matter so I'm assume I'm alone in a house. And based on the opening arguments, I concluded I was alone because it wouldn't make sense to destroy evidence with people around to implicate me. And as I've stated, I may do time for arson and with a good lawyer, plus it was only my own house I burned down, I'll prob walk or do little time... small price to pay to avoid 30 years.

edit: hypothetically speaking again of course lol :p
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: RichardE
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: RichardE
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Why do that when for under 50$ and a flower pot you can have your own thermite destruction kit :p

I'm under the assumption I'm in a normal house which usually wouldn't have thermite handy. :p. And if I did, I would do that but I'd still burn the house down. If my freedom for the next 30 years is on the line, I'm sure as hell going to do everything I can in 30 secs to not only destroy that hdd but to buy more for it to burn to hell and to cast doubt that anything will ever be found by the FBI.


edit: hypothetically speaking of course ;)

I would just set up a few bowls of thermite around the house wired to a central switch that can be activated with a big red button (make sure its red), which also dumps the 20 gallons of gasoline you had set up in a wall somewhere...than run out. Might as well make it good :p

That's premeditated, you're assuming you knew the FBI was knocking down your doors eventually and prepared for it. That pretty much defeats the purpose of the 30 sec shotgun idea since all you needed was to flip a switch. The hypothetical situation does not include you having to prepare for the scenario else it would be something as simple as having a grinder in my room that could turn a HDD into sawdust in secs... wouldn't be a need to burn down the house then.
 

RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
0
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: RichardE
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: RichardE
Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'm surprised no one has thought outside the box yet. If I'm facing 30+ years and my freedom relied on destroying a HDD and I had only 30 secs before the FBI busts in, the most logical thing I can think of is to buy more time[to destroy said hdd]. Right now the best I can come up with on the fly is to set the entire house on fire and while the fire is catching on everything I would take what little time I had left(before I had to gtfo or literally diaf) to create an area that would burn the hottest like piling up paper, gasoline, and wood next to an open gas line, place the hdd on it and run the hell out of the house before it goes kaboom. I doubt the FBI has firefighters on standby for these kind of things and usually with big fires, they just let the house burn down if it can't be saved. I may get a couple of years for arson but it ain't 30+. :)

edit: not even sure if they'll bother to search the house once everything is burnt to hell.

Why do that when for under 50$ and a flower pot you can have your own thermite destruction kit :p

I'm under the assumption I'm in a normal house which usually wouldn't have thermite handy. :p. And if I did, I would do that but I'd still burn the house down. If my freedom for the next 30 years is on the line, I'm sure as hell going to do everything I can in 30 secs to not only destroy that hdd but to buy more for it to burn to hell and to cast doubt that anything will ever be found by the FBI.


edit: hypothetically speaking of course ;)

I would just set up a few bowls of thermite around the house wired to a central switch that can be activated with a big red button (make sure its red), which also dumps the 20 gallons of gasoline you had set up in a wall somewhere...than run out. Might as well make it good :p

That's premeditated, you're assuming you knew the FBI was knocking down your doors eventually and prepared for it. That pretty much defeats the purpose of the 30 sec shotgun idea since all you needed was to flip a switch. The hypothetical situation does not include you having to prepare for the scenario else it would be something as simple as having a grinder in my room that could turn a HDD into sawdust in secs... wouldn't be a need to burn down the house then.

Well, explosions and super hot fire are much more fun than grinding imo.

I would think if you need to *seriously* consider this question, than you should make it a safe bet the FBI will eventually knock on your door.

On a side note, with all the discussion regarding clean rooms, what if you just pop the top off your hd and begin drilling holes, dumping gas/match onto the platters?

For reference I could pop the top off a HD in a few seconds, so that seems a bit easier, and to those saying take a hammer to it....I doubt you have tried that, those things are built well :p
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,417
12,595
126
www.anyf.ca
To do it uprepared would be very hard, stuff like thermite chances are you don't have it lying around the house. (that stuff sounds awesome btw, never knew about it till this thread).

Think the microwave is probably the easiest method. Though I'm not sure if it really is that affective. The metal shielding would probably protect it well enough and absorbe lot of the microwaves + damage the driver before it does enough damage.

Now a laptop hard drive, you're in luck. The platters are made of glass, and they can be poped out of the lappy easily. A couple hits with the sludge hammer would probably do it. They can probably still set all the pieces of glass on a special scanner but lot of them would have turned into dust so they'd loose out on lot of data.
 

RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
0
Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
To do it uprepared would be very hard, stuff like thermite chances are you don't have it lying around the house. (that stuff sounds awesome btw, never knew about it till this thread).

Think the microwave is probably the easiest method. Though I'm not sure if it really is that affective. The metal shielding would probably protect it well enough and absorbe lot of the microwaves + damage the driver before it does enough damage.

Now a laptop hard drive, you're in luck. The platters are made of glass, and they can be poped out of the lappy easily. A couple hits with the sludge hammer would probably do it. They can probably still set all the pieces of glass on a special scanner but lot of them would have turned into dust so they'd loose out on lot of data.

Good to know since I only use a laptop....hypothetically speaking...
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: RichardE
Well, explosions and super hot fire are much more fun than grinding imo.

I would think if you need to *seriously* consider this question, than you should make it a safe bet the FBI will eventually knock on your door.

On a side note, with all the discussion regarding clean rooms, what if you just pop the top off your hd and begin drilling holes, dumping gas/match onto the platters?

For reference I could pop the top off a HD in a few seconds, so that seems a bit easier, and to those saying take a hammer to it....I doubt you have tried that, those things are built well :p

No, that would make the hypothetical situation a moot point(or moot question?). If you assume the FBI is going to be knocking on your door sometime in the future, then there's no point to asking what you would do if you had only 30 secs because you would have already made preparations ahead of time to protect yourself from the ass pounding you would be receiving at your local FPMITAP.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Poop on it. Nobody's gonna touch dat sheeeit!

No but they're going to make you eat and lick it clean before they plug it in to retrieve its data.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
buy a drive degauser thingie
i'm sure they cost mega bucks. but hey, if ur doing something fbi/cia come to ream ur bumhole bad..i guess its cost of doing business.

 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
Originally posted by: SSSnail
Originally posted by: Dumac
Other than melting it in lava or blowing it up, nothing. Techies can recover erased hard drive data pretty easily, despite being wiped, magnetized, or other extreme methods.

Uh, no.

Let's just say I work VERY closely with digital forensics, and let me tell you it's not that easy to recover data as Hollywood made out to believe, nor it is easy to get rid of it (as suggested in popular movies by running magnets along the rigs).

In all seriousness, if you want to be a criminal and not get caught, it's very easy.

1. Open your wireless router.
2. Acquire boot CD or any of the light OS variant (Helix, BART PE, etc...)
3. Perform illegal activities in that environment.
4. ...
5. Profits?

Disclaimer, I do not condone any illegal activities that may be the results of what I post. All this information is freely distributed and easily found on Google. Tomorrow's lesson: Offshore Dynamic DNS.

LOL

/runs off to google "Offshore Dynamic DNS"

 

PELarson

Platinum Member
Mar 27, 2001
2,289
0
0
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: skyking
30 seconds? You could empty a 9MM magazine into it, I doubt they'd have a fun time with 15 holes through it.

If feds are coming in your door and you're blasting off 9MM rounds, the data on the hard drive is probably the last of your worries.

fixed
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
36
91
Vista + ATi card + AMD processor.


They wouldnt be able to boot it up in 100 years :laugh:
 

Rock Hydra

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
6,466
1
0
So, say if you just used like SSD drives, then couldn't you just pop them in the microwave or something for a bit to destroy the data?
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
Originally posted by: Shawn
Originally posted by: Mungla
Keep your data stored on a portable drive or something similar in nature using flash (solid state) memory. It doesn't take much to smash a small flash drive to a million pieces. Good luck recovering that.

I agree. You can get a 32GB usb flash drive for pretty cheap these days. A hammer would destroy all data with no chance of recovery.

ditto. get one of those "slim" ones for almost instant burnination. good luck recovering data off a puff of smoke.

hard drives are too difficult to dismantle and resilient to completely erase in 30 seconds. there are lots of ways to read data off a broken drive.
 

Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
7
81
1. Use as esoteric of a file system as possible. On windows, you're basically limited to NTFS, but on Linux you can choose something like XFS that is pretty easy to destroy.

2. A strong electromagnet.

3. Shatter the platters somehow. You may be able to with a hammer. A bullet would work.

4. Encrypt your harddrive with TrueCrypt or something similar so it's a pain in the ass to get any data off it even if it worked fully.

5. If the previous option isn't available, then anything you have that might be incriminating should be stored in a heavily encrypted folder. Why take risks?

6. How about a strong electrical current? Get some exposed wiring and hook the harddrive up to the AC current.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Why not a high powered magnet? Swipe it over the drive as many times as you can before they kick your door down.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Set up a really high flow gas nozzle hooked up to a tank of propane optimally positioned under the HDD.

You could easily hide it all to gain far more than the 30s, and even then, you could make the drive very, very hot in that time period...
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
So, I need to build an external HD enclosure out of furnace brick or furnace cement and leave the HD sitting in a bed of thermite. Sounds simple enough.

or

Buy one of those electromagnets that is made for use on a crane and have it mounted next to the hard drive. I used to have a little baby one at my old work with a permanent magnet in it to lift up to 500 lbs. The thing was like 4"X3"X8" I wonder if that would be strong enough?