How do I make an old computer secure?

[lurker17260]

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.

[monman12 · Accepted solution]

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

[lurker17260]

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@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

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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

[lakeland27 · Accepted solution]

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.

[lurker17260]

Thank you gentlemen

That was simple, and fun

[the_hawk*]

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.MpiVkF5...

[joz*garage]

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

[polksaladallie]

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.

[2106greencat]

Lock it in a cupboard with a strong chain and padlock 

[polksaladallie]

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@monman12 wrote:

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

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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.