Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Death On Demand Drive Tech

Posted by Zonk on from the watch-for-leaks dept.

Xanderoth writes "Engadget has an article on 'Dead on Demand' technology to destroy your disk drive should it be compromised by any number of ways. From the article: 'Configurable triggers such as removal or tampering of the drive, removal of device from a resting GPS point, cellular telephone call, or even a change in temperature will release a chemical mist into the drive (not the computer) destroying it layer by layer.' Of course the drives, due out next year, are expected to be priced between $2,500 to $9,000 each, plus a yearly fee."

11 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. "plus a yearly fee" ... by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Uhm ... or they destroy the harddrive themselves?

    --
    We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
    1. Re:"plus a yearly fee" ... by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Ominous" is a fitting word...

      "Nice hard drives you have there....it'd be a shame if something were to...happen...to them..."
      --
      ____

      ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  2. Technology in use for years... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I swear every Maxtor drive I've ever had has this feature...

    Any number of triggers activate self destruct mode...

    Defragging the hard drive
    Installing a new OS
    Turning the machine on

  3. Why Bother? by eno2001 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just buy a Maxtor and all you have to do to destroy your data is... use it. ;P

    --
    -"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
    1. Re:Why Bother? by djdanlib · · Score: 4, Funny

      Looks like you can't trust Seagate or IBM, either. I've had both of those die very quickly off the shelf as well. And don't forget about floppies, because drop them a half inch, take them into another room, or look at them crosseyed and poof! Then there's CDs that rot away all the time. Don't even mention DVDs. Oops.

      That's why I now use an automated system involving monks and papyrus scrolls for all my data.

      Those famous dead sea scrolls lasted how long?

  4. Great Business Model by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    This is a great idea! I'd pay for such a service, as I am sure will many others. Now if only they could offer end to end management of things like self-desructing offisite backups.

    I'd like to see them fire me then!

    "I'm fired. Oh really?" - presses speed dial 1 on cellphone.

    "There go the production servers hard drives. Lets discuss my retirement package quickly. Maybe we won't lose all the offsite backups."

  5. Yearly Fee... by Ismilar · · Score: 5, Funny

    "plus a yearly fee." ... which you WILL pay... or else you will get to see our drive-destroying technology in action!

  6. Ah, the good ole days by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Reminds me of the early 90's when I first got access to a pirate BBS. I was so concerned that they would get busted and I'd get raided that I set up a script that would blow away my entire hard drive with one click.

    The stage is set.

    So, a month after I get access I'm hanging out on the BBS at about 11pm and there's a knock at my door. I look through the window and see a police officer. I run the script and answer the door with as much composure as I can muster.

    The police officer looks at me strangely like he was expecting me to react in some way. He then asked if I called. When I said no, he realized that he was at the wrong apartment.

  7. GPS is baaaad idea! by dindi · · Score: 4, Funny

    I imagine myself walking with a GPS Jammer around data centers like a little kid imagining how many drives I just blew away ....

  8. What I can't wait for... by ImaLamer · · Score: 3, Funny

    I want this for my kids!

    If someone tries to kidnap them, they blow up! If I can't have them no one can!

    Disclaimer: Don't worry, I don't actually have kids.

    --
    Get your Unix fortune now!
  9. Re:Software Encryption (or Destruction) Instead? by mattso · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, the NSA those guys are good.

    1. Had no clue about what weapons and forces Iraq really had.
    2. Still can't find Waldo.
    3. No clue where Bin Laden is.
    4. No idea in advance about 9/11.

    They might have acres of Vic-20's maybe. Sometimes I think they pay people to flood forums and what not talking about their amazing powers. Because the record clearly shows if they actually are good at doing anything it has nothing to do with what everyone claims they are amazing at.