Technabob » erase

DataKiller Obliterates Hard Drive Data in a Second

Technabob — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:24:44 +0000

If you’ve got a bunch of data lying around on old hard drives, and want to make sure that nobody gets their hands on it, you could try reformatting the drives, but there’s always a chance that a data recovery service could pull the data off. You could also smash or melt the platters, but that would be messy. On the other hand, you could just expose the drives to a massive electromagnetic field to wipe out the data without harming the hardware.

That’s exactly what the DataKiller promises to do. Created by Platform of Japan, this large metal contraption is said to instantly kill the data on magnetic media by realigning all of the magnetic particles in the same orientation.

In addition to wiping hard drives clean, the DataKiller can also clear off magnetic tapes just as quickly. After they’ve been through the DataKiller, all erased media can be reused like new. While the idea behind using magnetic fields to erase hard drives is nothing new, this is the first time I’ve seen such an imposing and serious looking data security device. As a matter of fact, the largest of these devices can wipe 14 hard drives at the same time.

Just remember not to put your credit cards inside of the DataKiller when you switch it on.

[via DigInfo]

Rfiddler: Rfid Zapper Gun Terminates Rfid Tags for Good

Technabob — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:43:05 +0000

This badass looking weapon won’t hurt a fly – but it will kill any RFID tag you point it at. The Rfiddler gun can be aimed at unsuspecting RFID tags and destroy their data by simply overloading the tags with a very strong electromagnetic field.

Codeninja built this device using a Nerf N-Strike Recon CS-6 loaded up with a 0.6 kilojoule camera flash driving a 50-turn copper spool. Now I have no idea how that works, but it sure sounds nasty. Also under the hood is an MP3 player with a 2-watt amplifier and speaker to crank out some good destructo sounds when the RFID eraser is engaged. As an added bonus, the Rfiddler momentarily blinds those who stand in front of it with a bright flash.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Apparently, it’s also strong enough to kill many USB flash drives. Given the way this thing works, I wouldn’t aim it at your credit cards, hard drives (or the cat) either.

[via Hack A Day]

Lose/Lose: Shoot to Kill (Your Files)

Technabob — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:37:04 +0000

I’ve seen some weird mini games in my time, but this one might just take the cake. While the gameplay mechanics of Lose/Lose might look like any other space-alien-shooter, the consequences of playing incorrectly are so much greater.

You see, every time you shoot an alien, you lose. That’s because each alien represents a randomly selected file on your computer’s hard drive. And each successful shot deletes the chosen file. Now what sort of fun is that? Except maybe on someone else’s computer, right?

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Zach Gage, the creator of Lose/Lose, explains the seemingly meaningless gameplay as follows: “By way of exploring what it means to kill in a video-game, Lose/Lose broaches bigger questions. As technology grows, our understanding of it diminishes, yet, at the same time, it becomes increasingly important in our lives. At what point does our virtual data become as important to us as physical possessions? If we have reached that point already, what real objects do we value less than our data? What implications does trusting something so important to something we understand so poorly have?”

So I guess the point is that you’re not supposed to kill the aliens at all. So if you manage to ram yourself into an alien and your man dies, you’re rewarded with the best part of the game – the game deletes its own executable. Whee.

Download Lose/Lose at your own risk.

Me, I’m sticking to Uncharted 2.

[via Sensible Erection via TIGSource]

Best Way to Destroy a Hard Drive

Technabob — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:55:29 +0000

If you’re concerned that someone might find your corporate secrets (or your nasty web surfing habits) on your used computer’s hard drive, check this out. The appropriately named BREAKS-EASY is a device designed to ensure that nobody can find the skeletons in your closet.

Much like those can crushers you use to recycle cans, the BREAKS-EASY is designed to crush any hard drive into smithereens. If you happen to have a lot of drives to destroy (or have limited upper-arm strength), you might want to check out one of Orient Instrument’s high-powered automatic hard disk crushers.

While I personally think a sledgehammer or a large magnet does the trick, this seems like it might be a little more fun.

[via Akihabaranews]