On "The Screen Savers," we always tell you how to save and protect your data. But as D-Tip, I'm always doing something a little different, and today's no exception. Today, I'll show you several methods for destroying your precious data.

Why do you want to destroy your data in the first place?

• To protect your privacy.
• To prevent others from seeing sensitive data.
• To cover your tracks in case you're performing confidential activities on your computer.

When it comes to wiping out data, forget about the Recycle Bin, stupid shareware utilities, or fun little free files. I'll show you hard-core software and hardware that absolutely, positively, leaves no trace of the data (or makes the data practically impossible to use).

Software solutions

Software-based data destruction is perfect for most people to use on hard drives or floppy disks. If you have financial records, business secrets, or other sensitive material, use one of the methods below.

• Eraser
  This open source application, perfect for deleting individual files, surpasses Department of Defense data deletion specifications.
  
• Pretty Good Privacy
  PGP is great for encrypting email, but it also has a file deletion utility. With PGP installed, all you have to do is right-click on any file and choose Wipe. This deletes and overwrites the target file.
  
• Autoclave
  Looking to sell your computer on eBay? Make sure you delete the data before you do. You can use Autoclave to create a bootable floppy disk that overwrites all hard-drive data. Autoclave can overwrite the hard drive with specific data patterns that exercise all the bits on the drive, making it extremely difficult to recover anything at all.
  

Software-based data destruction is never as good as hardware destruction. Any three-letter government agency (FBI, CIA, NSA) can recover data from software destruction using high-power microscopes.

Hardware solutions

If you can afford to destroy the media that stores the data, you increase your probability of maintaining your privacy.

• Fellowes PS70-2CD shredder
  Have you ever used a marking pen to write over the data portion of a CD you want to dispose? Or better yet, closed your eyes and flexed the CD until it shatters? You don't have to do that anymore if you buy Fellows' new paper and CD shredder. I haven't been this happy about a product since Big Nate's BBQ brought back the half-slab of ribs for $4.99 on Tuesdays.
  
• Hard drive/floppy degausser
  A degausser is a charged coil that removes all magnetic fields from a target device. To use the degausser, you set the hard drive or floppy disk upon the device and switch it on. Degaussers are expensive and can vary in price based on effective degaussing power. Degaussers should be used with a software tool such as autoclave.
  
• Acid and thermite
  Acid can be used to dissolve disks. Thermite creates a reaction that burns media to a crisp. Realistically, you aren't going to use these materials to destroy your media. It's too dangerous and not worth the hassle. That won't stop use from demonstrating on TV how these items work, so it's time for a disclaimer.
  
  Never attempt to use acid or thermite at home. Using these materials can cause severe injury. If you are a commercial company considering this method for disk and data destruction, please consult your local data destruction specialists.
  
  On the show, I'll demonstrate the power of Thermite. Thermite is a stable chemical compound that, when ignited, turns into molten iron and burns at approximately 3,000 degrees Celsius. This wonderful substance is used commercially to weld together railroad tracks. But even if you don't hang out in railroad yards, you've probably seen this substance in action already.
  
  Remember the Hindenburg? It was a big zeppelin filled with hydrogen. As it turns out, it was even more of an accident waiting to happen than originally thought. The geniuses who designed this diesel-driven death trap wanted to give its outer hull a pretty metallic sheen. And what better shiny ingredient to add to the paint than, you guessed it, thermite! A research study proved that it was indeed a thermite reaction that ignited the zeppelin's hydrogen, resulting in the deaths of 38 people. So, please folks, don't try this at home or your house may very well end up a smoking ruin.
  
  For the purposes of our thermite demonstration, we decided the ignition system was better off being powered by a battery than by the juice from the computer's power supply. Why? Because in a standard police raid, the first thing they do is cut the power. And how are you supposed to activate a kill switch without power? That would just be embarrassing. Also, we wanted to take this outside to get plenty of ventilation. (One of the chemicals in thermite is a known carcinogen if inhaled in large amounts.) Plus, we haven't a clue as to how many more cancer-causing vapors are released from the melting remnants of a hard drive.
  

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