Destroy old phones

[jimwilli]

I have 2 or 3 old smartphones. Smashed screens not working etc. What's the safest way to dispose without risking my data being hacked. Should I take a hammer to them first? I don't think I can turn on to wipe the memory

[markiii]

microwave

[colin_p]

If it says "Do NOT dispose on a fire" that means the most fun can be had by disposing of it on a fire. A very pretty light show.

[DodgyGeezer]

colin_p said:

If it says "Do NOT dispose on a fire" that means the most fun can be had by disposing of it on a fire. A very pretty light show.

hmmmm wrap all three together, dowse in a diesel slurry.....

[xx99xx]

Put them out with your weekly rubbish/take to the tip. Do people really go searching through landfill for old phones/computers to steal data? (Apart from that guy in Wales who wants to search for his hard drive with bitcoins on it).

[Caddyshack]

Smash the granny out of them with a hammer, then drill a few holes through them…I expect that would stop them being used then bin em…this may not be safe or environ friendly.

[leemarkadams]

Drill through them a few times and then dispose of them.

[anonymous-user]

Vat of strong acid.

[Hoofy]

I watched a documentary presented by an Austrian where a robot was destroyed in a furnace.

[anonymous-user]

Hoofy said:

I watched a documentary presented by an Austrian where a robot was destroyed in a furnace.

[Wacky Racer]

Drop them off the Humber or Forth bridges.

[dudleybloke]

Burn them, grind the ashes into fine powder, then send it in a rocket into the sun.

[CoolHands]

Apparently Apple stores take them in. I imagine they must dispose of them securely for their reputation.

[OutInTheShed]

There are companies who securely destroy hard drives and stuff.
I've seen phones and laptops chucked in a hammer mill while suits with clip boards look on.

Son of a friend is a farrier, he has a quiet sideline of making hard drives and phones disappear.


Personally I wrap such things in a few layers of polythene then pound with a hammer before putting it in the domestic dustbin.
Generally after leaving the phone or hard drive in a drawer for several years, so the data is likely a bit stale anyway.


google will have the data regardless....

[Pistom]

Just give it to a 3 year old. They seem to be able to destroy anything.

[jimwilli]

Thanks for the ideas. My data isn't particularly sensitive anyway but just wondered what everyone else does.

[Caddyshack]

pocketspring said:

Hoofy said:

I watched a documentary presented by an Austrian where a robot was destroyed in a furnace.

You never know if they will be back though.

[Dermot O'Logical]

xx99xx said:

Put them out with your weekly rubbish/take to the tip. Do people really go searching through landfill for old phones/computers to steal data? (Apart from that guy in Wales who wants to search for his hard drive with bitcoins on it).

Is he still looking?

[LordHaveMurci]

Wacky Racer said:

Drop them off the Humber or Forth bridges.

But then they’ll be at the bottom of a river & you’ll never know if they were destroyed or not

[Largechris]

Caddyshack said:

Smash the granny out of them with a hammer, then drill a few holes through them…I expect that would stop them being used then bin em…this may not be safe or environ friendly.

Just rewatching 24 and in series 4 the villain did that with his phone and Jack and Chloe still got the terrorist plans off the device.

I'd be thinking more the acid / flamethrower route.