Gadgets July 2, 2009 posted by Nigel

Erase-o-Matic – the simple, silent, zero power data zapper

eraseomatic small Erase o Matic the simple, silent, zero power data zapper

The Erase-o-Matic degausser uses rare earth magnets enclosed in a specially formulated case to zap magnetic data media such as diskettes, cassettes, VHS, zip drives and all that kind of stuff. Its bigger brother will do for larger media and hard drives. Are we allowed to say we love the name? It’s so…homely isn’t it? Like Robbie the Robot and Lassie. OK, enough of that. The base version is priced at $395.00. zzzzztpfffzsttzing.

All tapes should be passed once then rotated 180 degrees and passed again. A hard drive (end A first) should be passed once, rotated 180 degrees and passed again, then (with end B first) pass it again , rotate 180 degrees and pass again. These multiple passes will ensure that all portions of the media will receive maximum exposure to the powerful magnets within the media pathway.

Tags: gadget, erase-o-matic, degausser, magnet, security

About the Author:

Nigel is the managing editor of the Red Ferret, as well as a freelance columnist for the Sunday Times newspaper in London. Loves tech and fancies himself as a bit of a futurist, but then don't we all?

Nigel – who has written 5202 posts on The Red Ferret Journal.

Hi! Thanks for stopping by. Why not subscribe to our free RSS feed, Twitter or Facebook page and stay updated with more fab Ferret fun?

Steve

Seems a tad expensive!
sean

Hmm… Don't use diskettes or zip drives anymore. That leaves tapes, easily destructible by other means. Wouldn't really trust it on hard drives, plus for $395, I can get in a lot of frustration reducing whacks with my short handle 4 lb sledge and anvil.

Take that for all the years of PITA, computer, WHAM!
Athios

Don't be stupid. You can get a ginormous (a.k.a. dangerously large) rare earth magnets for like $40 on the internet.
http://www.westwight.net bob

Diskettes? Can't get rid of them. That's all that insulates the loft