topic Re: How do I make an old computer secure? in Community Spirit

How do I make an old computer secure?

lurker17260 — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:12:25 GMT

I've got an old computer that doesn't work anymore. I have found that my local tip will take it, but how do I make any files etc on it secure before I throw it out? I remember something/someone saying you should destroy the hard drive.

I'm no techy so have no idea where or what I should be looking for.

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

monman12 — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:31:01 GMT

If you believe that anybody would be interested in your hard drive contents (??) and have no one who could take the cover/side off and remove/damage the HDD ( 2mins), bash the whole thing with a hammer etc. It would then not attract any attention at the tip.

nɥºɾ

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

lurker17260 — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:35:24 GMT

@monman12 wrote:
If you believe that anybody would be interested in your hard drive contents (??) and have no one who could take the cover/side off and remove/damage the HDD ( 2mins), bash the whole thing with a hammer etc. It would then not attract any attention at the tip.

nɥºɾ

You're right, probably nothing that anybody would be interested in but ..........

I could probably manage to take the cover off but what would I be looking for to bash? What does a HDD look like?

I quite like bashing things with hammers

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

lakeland27 — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:39:26 GMT

just bash the whole thing with hammers. if you hit it hard enough the 'innards' will be revealed anyway, so you can get stuck into them.

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

lurker17260 — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:52:34 GMT

Thank you gentlemen

That was simple, and fun

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

the_hawk* — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 03:38:37 GMT

This is what a HDD will look like

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=hhd&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49784469,d.dGI,pv.xjs.s.en_US.MpiVkF51mpA.O&biw=1024&bih=415&wrapid=tlif137480979704610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=xO7xUaXELqjqiAfg54DAAw#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=3.5%22+hhd+&oq=3.5%22+hhd+&gs_l=img.12...72344.78407.0.79938.6.6.0.0.0.0.297.1157.2-5.5.0....0...1c.1.22.img..5.1.297.8mZt8PQ7XHY&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49784469,d.dGI&fp=5a2994b4455266f7&biw=1024&bih=415

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

joz*garage — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 18:47:52 GMT

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/erase-hard-drive.htm

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

polksaladallie — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 00:26:23 GMT

You can pay someone to remove the contents of the hard drive.

Or take off the cover, unscrew the hard drive, bash it a bit, leave it in salt water for six months, then throw it away. Or bury it in the back garden.

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

2106greencat — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 01:26:55 GMT

Lock it in a cupboard with a strong chain and padlock

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

polksaladallie — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 01:33:00 GMT

@monman12 wrote:
If you believe that anybody would be interested in your hard drive contents (??) nɥºɾ

There are lots of people who buy old computers, hoping that the seller doesn't know to remove data, in order to steal IDs, money etc.

Re: How do I make an old computer secure?

annies_fancy_dress — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 08:39:28 GMT

Get a backyard bonfire going while it's still winter and toss the pute in.