Samsung asks consumer to ruin 980 Pro SSD with a drill prior to returning it for RMA

Cutting corners: Samsung Germany has actually taken information defense to a brand-new extreme. They asked for a client to ruin his Samsung 980 Pro by drilling or smashing it with a hammer prior to returning it for RMA. Why?

Returning an SSD can be a fragile procedure as information security can be of utmost significance– a lot more so in Europe where rigorous information security laws have actually remained in location for years. A user from Igor’s Lab found a rather non-traditional RMA policy when returning his Samsung 980 Pro SSD. Samsung Germany requested this user to damage his 980 Pro with a drill or hammer prior to returning it for RMA.

As detailed in the report from Igor’s Lab, the RMA began in common style with the user supplying requisite details such as the identification number, evidence of failure, and repairing actions. A diagnostic scan on Samsung Magician exposed the drive was stopping working with numerous mistakes on the NAND flash. The next action was for the drive to be returned, however what if the consumer hesitates to return the drive as is? This is where things got intriguing.

At this phase there had actually likewise been some telephone correspondence in between Samsung and the consumer, and although the information are not understood, we can just speculate this to be a severe case where the client had actually saved extremely delicate information on the passing away drive.

After offering a composed description regarding why the drive might not be returned as is, the user found a rather strange RMA policy. Based on the correspondence from Samsung, the consumer was asked for to “drill holes in the SSD or smash it with a hammer”, while supplying image or video proof of the act. The concept was to make it physically difficult to access the information, thus guaranteeing total information defense.

Igor’s Labs gladly required and required to the 980 Pro with a mill, nullifying any possibility of information being recuperated from the drive. They even released a YouTube video (revealed above) of the execution. The video reveals the private NAND layers being ruined– Samsung 980 Pro owners might wish to take a hand down this one. Needless to state, all the information was damaged, making sure comfort for the client. The drive has actually given that been returned to Samsung, and the client awaits his brand-new SSD.

Users are motivated to utilize a clean tool such as Active @ KillDisk prior to returning or offering their SSDs. This sort of energy will completely eliminate all information, likewise avoiding the possibility of information healing. Such a tool might not dependably clean all information on a stopping working drive, so keep your hammers and drills convenient!