Degausser

A degausser , degausser (of Gauss (unit) or the English spelling Gauss) or demagnetizer is a device with the aid of magnetic disk by demagnetization can be reliably extinguished on the manufacturer statements.

In a degausser, the data carrier is exposed to a strong magnetic field ; a normal field strength can be between 2,800 and 11,000 Oersted . Usually several deletions are carried out. The name Degausser goes back to the unit of magnetic flux density, the Gauss .

The degausser should generate a magnetic flux density of 8000 Gauss or 0.8 Tesla for erasing hard drives . It delivers more than twice the field strength compared to that which hard drives use internally for writing (0.15 to 0.3 T).

Since not only the actual data memory but also servo and maintenance information is deleted when deleting hard disks, an intact hard disk is also destroyed after the deletion process in the Degausser. In addition to hard drives, all types of magnetic data media such as magnetic tapes ( audio , video , data), floppy disks and magnetic cards can be erased.

Devices are commercially available as handheld devices - similar to a barcode scanner - up to floor-standing devices in cupboards.

In addition to the degaussers, there are also devices that make a hard disk mechanically unusable. There are large shredders that cut hard drives into small particles or manual table-top devices such as the HDT1 from the German manufacturer ADR AG. With this device you can punch holes in hard drives or completely dismantle a hard drive.

By combining a degausser and a physical destroyer, one can assume that the data has been safely destroyed.