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Erasing CDs By Using 150,000 Volts of Electricity

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the take-that-csi dept.

ryzvonusef writes "One enterprising individual has created the most secure way to wipe out Compact Discs, by using a step-up transformer and creating a 150,000 Volt pd, whilst a CD rotates in the middle. The sparks arc through the metal in the CD and evaporates it, ripping it all off as the CD rotates. The CD is rendered transparent and unreadable. This may be the most secure method to remove data on conventional recordable CDs used in offices."

2 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. Microwave by yogidog98 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Science geeks have been doing this for years with microwave ovens; though, it was more for the cool light show than for data security.

  2. Is this really secure? by Zorpheus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Of course you can not read a CD if the reflective metal layer is removed. But the data is stored in tiny pits that are printed into the polycarbonate layer. If the polycarbonate is not damaged too much, the CD might be readable when a new metal layer is applied.