This isn't installing Linux on a HDD. This is running Linux on a HDD, on the HDD controller itself - a good hack! Also the end of the article (page 6) discusse

This isn't installing Linux on a HDD. This is running Linux on a HDD, on the HDD controller itself - a good hack! Also the end of the article (page 6) discusses the potential impact of computers running in your computer, including security implications. When you plug a hard drive in, do you trust it? Found from this HN comment, thanks /u/cj: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34051465 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34051465