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Death On Demand Drive Tech

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."

5 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. Notice: Your annual fee is past due by Message+Board · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Please make payment immediately to avoid automatic loss of data.

    Please note that this is for your protection - since if your drive is not protected against theft, we will activate the antitheft device to ensure that your data won't fall into the wrong hands.

  2. How stupid is that? by lheal · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For every N drives they sell, I would put at N the number of people who at some point say,

    "Ooops -- oh, crap."

    Is Murphy's Law just not taught any more?

    --
    Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
  3. Using obvious tricks for free. by nolife · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I can not directly relate this to a HD so this is probably somewhat off topic..
    I created some user induced destructing car stereo amplifiers.
    I removed the painted on "Pos(+)" and "Neg(-)" markings from the power terminals and painted new labels on them that were backwards. I also used a black wire for the positive wire and a red for the negative. I used stencils from some old electronic hobby kits I had laying around and they matched perfectly. Jump ahead about 5 years and sure enough, those amplifiers were stolen as well. I can only hope that the person that attempted to hook them up the first time fried them in the process. Yes, I had some free time on my hands back then but I was so frustrated when my stereo was taken the first time that the relabeling the replacement equipment did not seem like a such a waste of time. The fact that there is a good chance this equipment will be ruined does make me feel a little bit better.

    --
    Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
  4. Re:Why not just encrypt the drive? by Chazman · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Besides, the self destructive approach would never be acceptable in a military or top secret installation

    Not as a primary means of data protection, but they love it as a secondary means. They'd buy these drives *AND* run encrypted filesystems on them. Remember the spy plane that was forced to land in China? When the Chinese military stormed the plane, the comms op was hacking the crypto equipment to bits -- literally, with a large axe. Official recommended procedure, after going through the electronic sterilization steps. Execute all designed-in electronic destruction measures, then follow up with as many physical destruction measures as you have time for.

    --
    -----Chaz
  5. hackaday project by keyrat+rafa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For much less and zero maintenance fees you could just buy a big magnet and put it on top of your hard drive. Then have a missile style toggle switch with a red cover on your case to turn the magnet on. If really adventurous, you could tie the switch to a phone line. There would be no software involved and you'd probably save about $1.7k.

    It'd be much cooler too.