Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
1–10 of 34 posts
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#2Except for SSD's, perhaps its just easier to use something like
http://www.dban.org/ and DIY. If you're a little paranoid, it isn't hard to imagine the USPS waylaying mail hard drives en-route to Destroyer.io for forensic imaging before it reaches its final resting place.
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#3I didn't read much through the website but how can they assure me the disks are not imaged or read or anything else before they are destroyed?
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#4I didn't read much through the website but how can they assure me the disks are not imaged or read or anything else before they are destroyed?
Great question. Naturally, most of the inquiries or concerns around this service are going to revolve around trust and security.
The obvious and straight forward answer is that we don't do that. The more complicated one would be that we'd break a large amount of serious laws if we were doing something like that.
When testing the service out, some users asked for further assurance . The solution that seemed to be liked the most involved a video feed (or pictures), that showed how we opened the package, removed the drive and destroyed it. That's something that I'd build down the road if I get enough requests or feel that it would move the needle in the right direction.
For now, here's what we do: receive the drive, degauss (demagnetize) it, destroy it. The customer is notified when the package arrives and when the drive is destroyed, at which point we send a certificate of destruction.
Also, we're in the process of getting our NAID AAA, eStewards, R2 and ISO 14001 certifications. The machines and processes that we use follow all of their guidelines, it's just a matter of getting approved (and paying the fees).
Let me know if you have any other ideas on how we could show/proof that we're trustworthy. Interested in listening to any suggestions.
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#5Except for SSD's, perhaps its just easier to use something like http://www.dban.org/ and DIY. If you're a little paranoid, it isn't hard to imagine the USPS waylaying mail hard drives en-route to Destroyer.io for forensic imaging before it reaches its final resting place.
I understand your concerns, but this particular scenario seems a little far fetched.
USPS would have to have a very strong interest in your hard drive. Know when you ship it. Intersect the package. Repackage it up exactly as it was. And finally, deliver it. This is extremely complicated, and they would be breaking an immense amount of laws. If they had such a strong interest in getting a hold of your drive, they'd be far better off stealing it from your home (or hacking into it).
I do understand that there are some other cases that won't be as extreme (how do we guarantee that we do in fact destroy it upon arrival?). Some level of trust, as with any service that you give you social security info, personal information or even Dropbox has to exist. Our aim is to answer any question that might happen in a realistic and likely scenario, and make sure that our messaging is on point.
Also, as I mentioned above, we're in the process of getting our NAID AAA, eStewards, R2 and ISO 14001 certifications.
Hope this answers your question, let me know if it makes sense (or shoot another question my way). Cheers!
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#6Except for SSD's, perhaps its just easier to use something like http://www.dban.org/ and DIY. If you're a little paranoid, it isn't hard to imagine the USPS waylaying mail hard drives en-route to Destroyer.io for forensic imaging before it reaches its final resting place.
I understand your concerns, but this particular scenario seems a little far fetched. USPS would have to have a very strong interest in your hard drive. Know when you ship it. Intersect the package. Repackage it up exactly as it was. And finally, deliver it. This is extremely complicated, and they would be breaking an immense amount of laws. If they had such a strong interest in getting a hold of your drive, they'd be…
The USPS already has the infrastructure to do it and its over a century old. I'm not even questioning your service, I just know that you have no control in the USPS segment of the package's chain-of-custody.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/monitoring-of-snail-mai...
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#7To be honest, it seems like a bit of overkill to pay $20 and ship a HDD to a 3rd party to have it destroyed. Wiping it in software, running it through a strong electromagnet and drilling a few holes in the platters or just beating the crap out of the drive is perfectly ok for destroying the data unless you're some top-secret government agency or whatever
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
I understand your concerns, but this particular scenario seems a little far fetched. USPS would have to have a very strong interest in your hard drive. Know when you ship it. Intersect the package. Repackage it up exactly as it was. And finally, deliver it. This is extremely complicated, and they would be breaking an immense amount of laws. If they had such a strong interest in getting a hold of your drive, they'd be…
The USPS already has the infrastructure to do it and its over a century old. I'm not even questioning your service, I just know that you have no control in the USPS segment of the package's chain-of-custody. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/monitoring-of-snail-mai...
Thanks for the article, and I understand your concern.
Adding FedEx as an upgrade option is something that is in the plans. Since we're just launching, we started out with USPS because it's the most cost effective and convenient (daily mailbox pickup and you can even schedule one free).
Having an alternative shipping method should help.
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#9To be honest, it seems like a bit of overkill to pay $20 and ship a HDD to a 3rd party to have it destroyed. Wiping it in software, running it through a strong electromagnet and drilling a few holes in the platters or just beating the crap out of the drive is perfectly ok for destroying the data unless you're some top-secret government agency or whatever
Thanks for the comment.
Yup, you can definitely destroy a hard drive (or almost anything, for that matter) yourself. This is just a guaranteed, safe and secure way to get it done for you.
Also, we recycle all of the parts, nothing ends up in a landfill. Hard drives can be pretty toxic.
Cheers!
Re: Show HN: Destroyer.io – The easiest way to destroy your hard drive
#10Reminds me of a story about Dell support, who have provided PCs previously to the UK security services. Goes something like this. PC sent to Dell because it had some issues booting.
Support tech opens the box and tries to boot the PC. Indeed, it doesn't boot. Can't find any bootable media.
Inside he finds that the drives have been removed and placed in static bags at the bottom of the box.
After a closer examination he finds all drives have been drilled through multiple times. Standard procedure for SS secure PCs when being sent off site.
Made me laugh that one.