Data destroyer: There are plenty of ways to go about securely disposing of files on storage drives, and some of them are more destructive than others.The DiskMantler, for example, can violently shake apart a hard drive in roughly 60 seconds, leaving behind individual components that can easily be recycled. For years, DIYers have turned to less sophisticated methods of destruction involving magnets, drills, and even firearms. But there is another commercial option for those needing to trash large quantities of storage devices in short order.
The MediaGone 500 SSD & Flash Media Shredder from Verity Systems is a professional tool capable of shredding SATA and NVMe SSDs, USB flash drives, optical discs, and even smartphones. The company claims the machine can be set up in an office environment and is available in either a tabletop or portable form factor. Built-in thermal and jam protections should ensure worry-free operation without any slowdowns.
It runs on a standard power cable, and has reportedly been designed for efficiency with a low carbon footprint (although it still consumes 1,400 watts). A reinforced laminated glass window with overhead LED lighting enables onlookers to safely watch as devices get pulverized in either standard of enhanced destruction mode. Shredded material is automatically deposited into a five gallon container (or a one gallon drawer for the tabletop model) for disposal.
The MediaGone 500 can destroy an SSD in less than a minute and according to its specs, can process up to 100 SSDs / 500 flash drives / 45 mobile phones per hour. The unit meets DIN 66399 specifications to security levels E-4, T-4, O-4, and H-5. A security key lock can prevent unauthorized use of the machine.
Pricing starts at $12,614 after a 13 percent instant discount, and includes free shipping. It is not the sort of tool the average enthusiast is likely to invest in but if you happen to manage sensitive storage devices on the regular or operate a data disposal company, it could be worth a look.
