{"id":60943,"date":"2023-11-18T12:05:36","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T11:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/"},"modified":"2023-11-18T14:33:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T13:33:10","slug":"secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/","title":{"rendered":"Secure disposal of Western Digital (WD) USB hard drives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Disassemble and destroy, that&#8217;s how it works.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>I still had two defective USB hard drives from WD lying around here, ready for disposal. However, despite being defective, I didn&#8217;t want to throw them in the bin. Theoretically, someone could fish them out and, with a little effort, read the data. Unlikely, but why take the risk. Especially as the one hard drive is technically OK, just no longer responsive, as I have bricked this <a href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/26777\/usb-festplatte-gebrickt-vorsicht-beim-einsatz-mit-hdparm-s-1\/\">hard drive<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#Video\" >Video<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#The_housing\" >The housing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#Lift_open_the_housing_cover\" >Lift open the housing cover<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#Removing_the_hard_drive_from_the_housing\" >Removing the hard drive from the housing<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#WD_hard_drives_do_not_have_a_SATA_connection\" >WD hard drives do not have a SATA connection<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#Disassemble_the_hard_drive\" >Disassemble the hard drive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/60943\/secure-disposal-of-western-digital-wd-usb-hard-drives\/#Destruction_of_the_hard_drive\" >Destruction of the hard drive<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Video\"><\/span>Video<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wPYpXoETXlc?si=P9e_LOyHy4Yi030k\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_housing\"><\/span>The housing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The housing itself has no screws. Not even under the rubber feet on the underside.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"492\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_1-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_1-768x472.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lift_open_the_housing_cover\"><\/span>Lift open the housing cover<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Carefully open the top with a knife. The lid is secured with catches, but these can be easily removed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60903\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_2-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Removing_the_hard_drive_from_the_housing\"><\/span>Removing the hard drive from the housing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The hard drive can now be easily pulled out.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_3-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"WD_hard_drives_do_not_have_a_SATA_connection\"><\/span>WD hard drives do not have a SATA connection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here we also see a major disadvantage of WD hard drives. Many manufacturers install normal SATA hard drives, which are then connected with a USB adapter. WD has a USB board directly on the hard drive. This means that it is no longer possible to easily access the data using an adapter if the USB fails.<\/p>\n<p>In my case, I could have brought the hard drive back to life by installing it in a PC. For me, this is definitely a reason to avoid WD hard drives in the future. Although there are soldering instructions on the Internet for connecting an adapter, this is not a trivial task.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_4.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_4-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disassemble_the_hard_drive\"><\/span>Disassemble the hard drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Open the cover of the hard drive. There are numerous small Torx screws here.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_5.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_5-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_5-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We also loosen the circuit board.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_6.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_6-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_6-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Presumably the steps taken so far would be sufficient to ensure that nobody reads the data. Someone would have to make the effort first, or from here on the &#8220;attacker&#8221; would have to take money into their own hands, but we&#8217;ll continue.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_7.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_7-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_7-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Destruction_of_the_hard_drive\"><\/span>Destruction of the hard drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now we can remove the cover and see the read\/write head and the data carriers.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60927\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_8.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_8-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We now loosen the motor, also Torx.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_9.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_9-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_9-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This now allows you to remove the individual data discs. In my case, these broke straight away. That&#8217;s the end of the matter. Data recovery is now too late. Otherwise, all you need to do is scratch the discs individually or break them, causing them to shatter into numerous small pieces. Caution is the order of the day here and a hoover is a must.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, we&#8217;re done!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60935\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_10.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_10-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hdd_10-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disassemble and destroy, that&#8217;s how it works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1551],"tags":[3406,3408],"class_list":["post-60943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hardware-en","tag-data-protection-en","tag-hard-disc-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}