Posted on 12/18/2012 7:00:28 AM PST by KansasGirl
we had a hard drive die on a dell pc. since the computer was at the time fairly new we contacted dell for a new one. now this hard drive had financial info etc. on it and we refused to give it back to Dell (they gave us a hard time about it but finally relented)
anyway we did a ton of research on how to destroy a hard drive and it is not easy... my husband works in a hospital and honestly the best way is to bring it with you into the MRI room as the (very powerful) magnet will erase all the data
either that or a hydraulic press.
regarding ISP addresses and such my understanding is there are some pretty sophisticated ways to hide where you are going...especially amongst the computer savvy kids ( like Adam apparently was) who may decide to go to some very bad places like the deep web ( incidentally a whole FBI unit is dedicated to monitoring the deep web.)
I wonder if they are looking there for prior activity to look for others who may be similarly inclined
Because I have heard so much about "destroyed" HDDs still being recoverable, I never throw mine away. I keep the HDDs and discard the rest.
Like everything else with this case... I do not believe anything until I get definitive proof. Rush stated that EVERYTHING reported within the first 24 hours was all lies.
LLS
And was it a hammer or screwdriver, and why can’t forensics tell the difference?
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There is only one obvious reaction to this. Ban all hammers and screwdrivers.
A forensic psychologist dismissed the idea that this guy wanted the attention—and that holds true for many others he’s investigated. They are just so messed up mentally and do often commit suicide as a result. Just throwing it out there.
Just call NSA, they have a copy on file somewhere.
LLS
Physically Destroy The Drive Platters: Go to your local hardware store, and buy a cheap $5 hammer. Smash hard drive until you are satisfied that the platters have even been warped or somehow deformed. Make this step easier by adding in a small screwdriver set if you don't want to smash the HDD case as well.
How can I destroy the drives with the least monetary / material requirements?
You've pretty much ruled out the most common and easiest ways to physically destroy your data, but that being said, you still have two routes that are fairly inexpensive.
[Source: Ask Question: Destroy a hard drive without proper equipment ]
Bingo!
I understand your skepticism. It’s hard to say if it were lies, or just news outlets rushing to be the first to report details without fact checking first. Hopefully we’ll find out all the true details.
Solid State Disks rely on a number of parameters to function properly. Each chip works in concert with the rest to provide contiguous storage. If you break or magnetically interfere with a single chip, you interrupt the storage circuit and data loss occurs. With a large enough magnet or EMP generated from simple static electricity, you could easily destroy a SSD.
As far as spinning disk, you are correct. Destroy the platters, you destroy the storage. If platters are intact, even if they’re scratched, SOME data can be recovered.
He probably dismantled the metal enclosure with a torx screw driver and then bent the platters inside by hitting them with a hammer.
A few months back I did about the same thing to a couple of hard drives I'd taken out of an old computer. Used a hammer, screwdriver and pliers to break the metal housing open and then to cut and scratch the disc before throwing it away.
Some are looking for far too much meaning in the sentence that mentions a "hammer or a screwdriver". Most likely just sloppy writing and reporting, which has been incredibly plentiful since this terrible story broke.
LLS
Lol. I dunno, perhaps it was the mom who came across the kids porn or something similar and was tired of it and did this. That could have pissed of the kid and then he went Benghazi on people.
Dunno, but some people wanna go down conspiracy road.
LE has had that hard drive since Friday.
Of course the info on the computer was damaging to the Left.
If there was anything relating to conservatism, religion, the Constitution or the Tea Party, that data would have already been shoved down our throats.
Again, LE has had it since Friday. Plenty of time to make sure NOTHING comes from it.
Just another sick, LIBERAL whacko...nothing to see here.
The truth is out there... not in print or on TV but it is out there.
LLS
Destruction of the computer was done with the same anger that he used to shoot his mother in the face while she was in bed. Same anger that motivated him to murder teachers and children.
Same anger (and despair?)that led to suicide.
This has since been debunked.
I was involved in writing the first DOD declassification software for hard drives.
I can say that even if the platters are physically damaged, some data can be recovered. It’s expensive though... Very expensive.
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