How to Erase the Magnetic Strip on a Key Card
The magnetic strips on key cards contain identifying information. You can erase this information using magnets. Exposure to a magnet of sufficient strength and duration will erase the magnetic strip. The field created by the magnet will rearrange the particles that encode information. When the particles change their arrangement, the information can no longer be read. The strong magnets that hold a refrigerator door shut have a strong enough magnetic field to wipe the data from a key card.
Instructions
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1
Place the key card with the magnetic strip facing the door seal onto the outer edge of an open refrigerator.
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2
Run the card up and down slowly along the edge of the refrigerator.
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3
Check that the information has been wiped using a card reader. Run the card a few more times along the refrigerator edge if necessary.
