When it comes to hard drive destruction there are a lot of questions and misinformation out there. This misinformation leaves a lot of personal data vulnerable. In fact, a recent Data Recovery Study showed that even after attempts to wipe drives, data could still be recovered. The study purchased 200 used hard drives on eBay and Craigslist and found that 67% of those drives still held personally identifiable information. Even more frightening, 11% of those drives contained sensitive corporate data such as company emails, sales projection spreadsheets, product inventories, and CRM records.
In order to protect yourself and your business, you need to have the right information. For this reason, we have decided to debunk four of the most popular hard drive destruction myths:
Myth #1: You can destroy a hard drive by putting it in water.
Truth: Hard drives are pretty well sealed, so dunking it into water quickly will most likely not affect it at all. Leaving it in a bucket of water for an extended period of time may damage the hard drive to the point where it doesn’t function anymore, so it that sense it will be destroyed. However, it will not get rid of the confidential data that is stored on it. Data on hard drives is stored magnetically on the interior platters, so adding water does not affect it.
Myth #2: I can use a magnet to wipe the data off my hard drive.
Truth: Since data is magnetically stored on a hard drive, it makes sense that you can use a magnet to wipe the data right? Wrong…. First, it is important to understand there are two types of drives: solid state drives and hard disk drives. Hard disk drives (HDDs) create binary code by changing the polarity of magnetic bits in the drive. So, in theory yes, a magnet could flip the bits and erase data stored on this type of drive. However, the magnet would have to be stronger than most MRI or Tesla magnets. A normal magnet will not cut it. Solid state drives (SSDs), such as USB thumb drives or smartphone memory keep binary code in a stored charge rather than using a magnetic field, making a magnetic ineffective at wiping data off this type of hard drive.
Myth #3: Formatting destroys data.
Truth: Unfortunately if someone knows what they are doing, they can easily retrieve data from a reformatted hard drive. All a hacker needs is some software and a desire to get the data off your drive and your confidential information is now in the wrong hands. In fact, this is not a job that only an expert hacker can accomplish. Data recovery software is designed to allow a layperson to easily access data they once believed was lost.
Myth #4: I can use a software program to erase information on my drive.
Truth: First, it is important to know that deleting files doesn’t erase them entirely either. It is like removing the front door to your house. The house and your valuables are still there, but you can’t just walk through the front door to get in. A person still could gain access through a back door and take your home’s valuables. Deleting a file is similar to this scenario. You are removing the easiest access point, but a hacker can easily find other methods of retrieving the information. Even the best information-erasing programs can’t completely remove all of the data off your hard drive.
So what is the best way to properly dispose of your old hard drives? Physical destruction is the most effective way to ensure information is unreadable and unrecoverable. And we are not talking simply taking a hammer to your drives, or running them over with a car. Proper destruction means running the drives through a specialized shredder. There should also be a secure chain of custody process and Certificate of Destruction in order to completely protect your business.
Want to learn more about proper hard drive destruction? Check out our Hard Drive Destruction page, or contact us for more information.
FAQs
While we can often achieve a partial recovery by reading around the damaged area of a hard drive, any areas with severe physical damage are lost forever.
Does physically opening a hard drive destroy it? ›
While we can often achieve a partial recovery by reading around the damaged area of a hard drive, any areas with severe physical damage are lost forever.
Will soaking in water destroy a hard drive? ›
But water alone will not destroy a hard drive or delete its data. While water can damage a hard drive's electronics, the data itself is stored magnetically. It will remain there on the platters, which is why professionals can still recover information from a water damaged hard drive.
How big of a magnet to erase a hard drive? ›
Most magnets are simply not strong enough to have any effect on the hard drive. You need at least 450 pounds of force which eliminates almost all magnets except for some of the strongest neodymium magnets. And most people don't have them lying around their home or office.
Do hard drives corrupt over time? ›
As the field strength weakens, data becomes corrupt (unreadable). Additionally, the hard drive relies on magnetic signals to determine where sectors begin or end. As your hard drive sits in storage, those signals also dissipate — and eventually, the hard drive will be unable to read data at all.
Should I destroy my hard drive before recycling? ›
You should always destroy hard drives or other electronic devices before recycling because there is no way to ensure that equipment sent for recycling will not be accessed by information thieves.
How to make HDD unrecoverable? ›
Method 1. Destroy Hard Drive by Drive Destruction Software
- Wipe OS-installed disk and data drive.
- Erase C drive; Free to wipe partitions on the same hard drive.
- Shred files - delete files altogether.
- Support Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Server 2012-2022.
Perhaps one of the fastest and most direct methods of destroying the platter in a hard drive is to bash it with a hammer. Platters are generally made out of glass or ceramic and will easily shatter. Others are made from metal and a good hammering will make them unusable.
Does drilling through a hard drive destroy it? ›
Hard drive drills are a more affordable way to destroy hard drives. They work by drilling holes through the hard drive platters, making the recovery of data more difficult. Drilling is not as secure as shredding however, but it is still a very effective way to destroy hard drives.
What liquid destroys a hard drive? ›
Melting hard drives involves dipping them in acid to destroy their platters and housing. Although this is one of the most effective hard drive destruction methods, it is also one of the most dangerous. This is because the process involves using hydrochloric and nitric acids.
A degaussing wand is a hand held device for erasing hard disc platters. The platter (disk) must be removed from the hard drive and the wand is then passed over it for approximately a minute to achieve a good erasure.
Will fire destroy a hard drive? ›
While it's probably possible to destroy a hard drive by burning it, the fire would have to be incredibly hot to destroy metal elements. We do not recommend starting a fire to destroy your hard drives. The fire risk alone is very dangerous and there is also the secondary risk of breathing in toxic fumes.
Can neodymium magnets damage cell phones? ›
Static magnetic fields won't harm your phone; they've just enriched our smartphone experience! Are Neodymium Magnets Safe? Yes! And they're some of the best and most durable magnets for phones.
Can a hard drive last 20 years? ›
Hard disk drives have more moving parts and are less durable and more likely to fail than their solid-state counterparts. For this reason, hard disk drives tend to last between 3–5 years.
Do external hard drives go bad if not used? ›
Reasons External Hard Drives Fail
Mechanical failure, including motor failure in devices that have sat unused for a long time.
Do SSDs last longer than HDDs? ›
These days, the lifetime of an SSD is nearly the same as that of an HDD: around five years on average.
Is it bad to open a hard drive? ›
Opening the hard drive will not only void the manufacturer warranty, it also can cause losing your data permanently. In other words, it's a bad and unwise thing to do that render irreparable harm to device and digital information in it.
Can hard drive be repaired physically? ›
If the hard drive has physical damage, such as a scratched platter or a failed head, it is unlikely that it can be repaired successfully. Even if the hard drive can be repaired, there is a risk that it will fail again prematurely. If your hard drive has failed, it is generally best to replace it with a new one.
What would damage a hard drive? ›
Causes. There are a number of causes for hard drives to fail including: human error, hardware failure, firmware corruption, media damage, heat, water damage, power issues and mishaps.
Does scratching a hard drive make it unreadable? ›
Does scratching a hard drive make it unreadable? Two things. The data in the sectors that have suffered scratching will certainly be unreadable. The hard drive may still be readable, and its data still recoverable, if the scratching is light, and you don't let it worsen.
