this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2026
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So if there is anything on your computer, deleting it just destroys the file directory to it, they can find it still, you have to delete everything, then rewrite over it with new information.
shred /dev/sda
Hah. TIL you can use shred on device files. I was only familiar with using dd to wipe drives.
Drills, big magnets, hammers etc… work too
Big magnets will only pull the arm off the plates and leave the data intact. Also why waste good hardware when all it needs is a couple of writes with all zeroes and ones?
Maybe your don’t have time
tbh I completely forgot about the context of this post. Yeah shredding takes longer than getting a warrant from a corrupt judge
Feels like it's easier to just not have anything on your hard drive that's worth that much effort. I can only think of one type of file that would justify that level of obfuscation in most of the world, and I actually fully support owners of those files turning their PCs over to the police unmolested, so to speak
Really? Looking around America right now(or any other fascist nation for that matter) you can't think of a single other reason why someone might want to hide electronic communications to the extent of not being recoverable?
Destroying the data on your hard drive only helps you if you think that files stored on it could incriminate you in court. ICE isn't sending your laptop in to a special forensics technician at DHS HQ to pull the 1s and 0s off of it to generate a justification for abducting and/or shooting you. Standard end to end encryption is plenty enough for online communications
Mircrowave.
Just take out anything LiON prior to nuking, and as much pure metal housing as you can.
And also plan on getting a new microwave.
And have a fire extinguisher on hand.
and do it outside and throw the microwave away so you don't die from NO2 poisoning...