Degaussing is extremely unreliable when destroying data, and the only way to check if it has been successful is to read the hard drive.
It might not be sexy, but erasure using an approved product, deems data irrecoverable. Alternatively physically shredding the drive is effective.
What I am unaware of is a method taking less than 60 seconds which effectively destroys data without endangering human life.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
