A tool to destroy a hd

Sounds a little James Bond-ish. "The name's Dack. Duffy Dack." (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

I wouldnt want it to blow up after 3 wrong passwords...especially if you have kids or something...however if they got 15 or more wrong or something, or turned off the computer more than 2 times without putting in the password then that would be nice, but be very careful, what you are probably be doing here is installing a virus to your computer....so be very careful when clicking on program files if you find a way to do this....

O and also, i would think about buying a 100 GB backup HD just in case and storing all your info on that and hiding it, if your really that worried about it!

.....a tool to destroy a hard drive...

How 'bout Wooster

I have seen similar apps on some "security" sites I may have visited. I can't recall where precisely. The problem with these is that it takes some time to wipe a HD, especially using DoD standards or better. Even a once over wipe-pass can take several minutes, more than time to shut down the machine so that the HD can be removed.

One option is to use a standard erase program, like East-Tec Eraser, and trigger to lauch in background upon "x" event, with parameters to erase sensitive file registry entries first, then erase the drive space where they reside. Such a task would require some program tweaks.

Better, probably, is to encrypt a drive space where your "special" files are stored. Some freeware apps will allow small , 2gb spaces. Pay-ware can encrypt whole drives.

Pros utilize a device that generates an HD lethal electro-magnetic pulse triggered by "x" event. Obviously, this would require extreme physical modification

If you find something I would love to take a look at it...

Put the laptop in a microwave oven and install a PIN code keypad set to switch on the microwave for 10 mins. As a fail safe you could also wire the microwave door to a 12 guage shotgun with a piece of string. Failing that, connect your house door handle to the mains electric so if the intruder tries to flee he will get electrocuted while trying to escape.

If he makes it past the shotgun and the wired door handle, you could hire a couple of ex SWAT guys to maintain a vigil 24/7 with s 'shoot to kill' policy if the correct codeword isnt spoken (change the codeword every hour).

lol..

There are super strong small magnets that wipe out harddrives. One could make a device that when triggered will move the magnet close to hardrive and physicly destroy it.

Magnet would be the easiest bet but also there is a tool in System Mechanic 5 professional which supposedly uses DOD grade algorithms to actually clean out your empty space from your hdd so that way no one can retrace and reconstruct the data on your hdd...you can even put like a string in that will be placed into the hdd like so "suryasuryasuryasurya...." you get the pic...

neodynium iron boron magnets would be quite effective

http://www.ensconcedata.com/faqs.html#how

I pity the fool!

i've tried magnitizing HDs, and it tends not to do any permanent damage unless the drive is spinning. sounds kinda weird, but that's how it worked out

also... being a little paranoid, aren't we?? just but an IDE password on the HD. you should be set with that. even if it doesnt wipe

I just dug this up:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article...html?mod=blogs

the only thing is errr..... test it to see if it works?

i don't understand. What sensitive material u have in your laptop that you need to self destruct once stolen? A bootleg copy of the Sims? A video of Paris Hilton? Your Swiss account number from your days as a Colombian Warlord?

Just hire a 24/7 Ninja Monk to protect it.

Here's a quote from that article that makes me leary of the idea:

"Some experts warn that such technology isn't a security cure-all. For instance, blasting private data from lost or stolen PCs won't protect companies from theft by disgruntled employees looking for payback. Others say the tools could make it too easy for information to be accidentally removed: "I can see a situation where, if the controls are too stringent, one executive is going to get his laptop hosed because he's been in Malaysia for three weeks inspecting factories," says Andrew Jaquith, a security analyst at the Yankee Group, a technology research firm in Boston. "It takes one mistake to make a piece of software like this very unattractive."

Others ask, what happens when an absent-minded employee simply forgets his password? "I have had mornings where I couldn't remember one of my 13 or 14 passwords -- and I've tried several times," said Stephen Northcutt, a researcher at the SANS Institute, a computer-security research and training organization in Bethesda, Md. "

But to address Closet_Nerd's question - if you've lived in a system for a while you'll have a bunch of data that you wouldn't want strangers getting. It doesn't have to be all that exotic. Online banking details for example, or if you've ever sent a request to a company to email you a replacement password because you've lost yours etc. can be the kind of thing you don't want strangers to get a hold of.

just don't keep your porn collection on your laptop...