Discarded or donated computers, copiers, and media disks are a principle source of information for identity thieves. These items should not be viewed as trash but rather as archives of confidential data.
Discarded or donated computers, copiers and media disks are a principle source of information for identity thieves. These items should not be viewed as trash but rather as archives of confidential data.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that 11.7 million people were victims of identity theft between 2006 and 2008. Proper data security is a crucial element in preventing identity theft.
The majority of US recycling companies ship electronic waste overseas. Identity thieves are able to buy and fish though hundreds of hard drives and media disks at a time and pull social security numbers, bank account details, birth certificates, online passwords, passport photos and addresses to create new identities, credit cards, take out loans, and empty bank accounts.
Deleting data does not remove it completely. Data is only gone once the hard disk has been written over at least 7 times with Department of Defense compliant data erasing software or physically destroyed.
Advanced Data Security Services
For your peace of mind and protection, GreenCitizen offers the following data destruction services:
- Hard Disk Destruction Services at a GreenCitizen Eco-Center
- Mail-in Hard Disk Destruction
- Copier Data Destruction
- Media Destruction
- On-Site Hard Disk Destruction Services
I agree with you that computers and hard disks are archives of confidential data. My husband was thinking of changing a new laptop and he wants to ensure that his work data is properly destroyed. I would imagine that having the physical and virtual copy of the information properly destroyed is important in maintaining confidentiality.