RE: secure disposal of backup tapes

[Glenn English <ghe () slsware com>]

On Wed, 2005-11-23 at 10:30 +1300, Steven Jones wrote:

> From: Murad Talukdar [mailto:talukdar_m () subway com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, 22 November 2005 1:38 p.m.
> To: security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: secure disposal of backup tapes
>
> Hi I wanted to get some ideas from everyone for secure disposal of
> DDS/TRAVAN/DLT backup tapes.
> How do you burn yours?

> On-site crusher, a lorry turns up with an inbuilt crusher/shreader, we
> witness important stuff crushed/shreaded, then it goes and gets pulped
> or incinerated.

This all sounds like such a waste. Used properly, a bulk eraser will
move those magnetic domains around enough that nobody will see anything
on the tape. Then they could be donated to starving newbies.

If the tapes *must* be destroyed, how about just melting them? That'd be
a lot less offensive to the universe than burning them...

-- 
Glenn English
ghe () slsware com
GPG ID: D0D7FF20