The magic smoke comes out so that you know its working. It's a very human design.
this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2025
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Frankly I was hoping to see a lot more… Back in the early 2009’s my employer was hit hard by the capacitor plague - we had something like 700 server motherboards recalled. Before the recall we had a handful of servers suffer “thermal events”. Long story short, the on-board video chip would erupt in a geyser of smoke & flame about 6-8 inches high.
I always wanted a novelty 5 inch bay device that was release a small wisp of smoke from the front of the pc case, like mission impossible. It could be a command, or randomized and it would councide with a BSOD or just a power-off command (probably screen off now that I think about it).
Smoke? I want the entire thing to explore like a Star Trek console.
You could probably build a lookalike using an ultrasonic vaporizer. Just fire it up and have it emit a puff of vapor on command.
Random would be great for when someones over and you're playing a game.
Only problem is the residue buildup. I think the smoke is a type of glycerine. It builds up on surfaces.
You could use isopropyl alcohol and a piezoelectric speaker.
The magic pixies are escaping.
Unless you have had three independent data recovery companies confirm the data can't be recovered - I'm not buying it.
For the software erase it says:
Even if power is interrupted during the data wiping process, the drive will automatically resume clearing data the next time it gets power, says Team Group.
We aren’t sure of the wiping algorithm or tech, so we would assume there remains a chance of data recovery after this software-powered wipe, or partial wipe.
For the hardware erase, it says recovery might be more effort than it's worth. So sounds like neither mode gets proven results.
It's essentially a dangerous scam.
For the hardware erase, it says recovery might be more effort than it's worth. So sounds like neither mode gets proven results.
No, it says that soldering new ICs onto the drive to be able to re-use it is likely more effort than it's worth. The original ICs are still burnt.
It does seem like it would be simpler and more reliable to use full disk encryption to encrypt the data before it's written, and just destroy the key if you want to nuke the data.
Came here for old school Mission: Impossible reference and wasn’t disappointed.
Lies. I see no self-destruction in action here.
did you stare long enough?
Lies
No one wants to microwave their mass storage anymore. 😡
We just keep making it easier for perry the platypus
Don't tell your friends! They WILL push that button the moment you're not looking.
Also don't buy this if you have small children.
Or big children
like literally a turn this into even more ewaste button?
No, it just wipes the encryption keys.
Edit: actually it has two modes. The second does make it e-waste, but I don't think people are going to be invoking that mode often.
Only if the FBI is at your door I assume
Then you won't have time to push the button, especially with a hinged cover. They know they're coming, you won't.
If you're worried about your door getting kicked in, then you need to take out the battery, fully encrypt the hard drive, and wrap the power cable around your ankle.
You should probably have some plan for if you're put under duress, but I sure don't and would immediately decrypt all of my secret gay porn.
What if they come to the window?
Good morning, Mr. Phelps...
I've been H/W Quick Eraseing ESP32s and ATMEL chips for over a decade now
Not buying it, unless there's smoke involved at the end.
That music, Jesus...