Abstract: This invention relates to a method for using electromagnetic radiation to destroy data stored on a device that includes a data storage region and a conductive region. For example, common Compact Disks (often called a CD) and Digital Versatile Disks (often called a DVD) both have regions of the disk constructed to have at least one data storage layer and at least one conductive layer. The method disclosed in this invention relies on electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave radiation, to set up an electric field in the conductive layer of the data storage disk, where the electrical field is strong enough to alter the physical proprieties of a fraction of the data storage region of the disk. The data stored in and near these physically altered regions is destroyed.

Abstract: A display system capable of displaying an image is modified with one or more elements that emit energy (140) that is outside the range of human perception, but within the range that is detected by the sensors used in a mechanical recording device (160). This energy could be in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. With this modification the display screen (110) will produce two simultaneous, or near simultaneous, images. The first image, seen by a human observer, will differ from the second image captured by the sensors of a recording device, such as a video camera.