The invention provides a hierarchical self-destruction method oriented to a distributed system. A processor endued with a capability for monitoring the whole distributed system in the distributed system serves as an event monitor M; a certain region divided for storing event information serves as an event storage bank Sto; a processor endued with a capability for analyzing event information serves as an event analyzer A; a processor endued with a capability for destroying files serves as a self-destructor D; and the event monitor M comprises an event collecting module C, an event monitoring strategy Str and an event treatment module T. The invention ensures that the self-destruction of a distributed key task system is accomplished, and a certain depth of exploration in the direction of self-destruction on the field of computers is performed. The invention has the advantages of low cost, wide application range and obvious self-destruction effect. The invention is mainly applied to the distributed key task systems, such as military, medical treatment and banks, and provides guarantee for data security and software security.