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 as many as 9,000,000 Americans are victims of identity theft each year. A large number of these cases will occur as a result of inadequate or improper data security.
The majority of US recycling companies ship electronic waste or "e-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.
Approximately 10 million Americans will be affected by identity theft this year. A large number of them will become victims as a result of inadequate or improper data security.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that between 500,000 and 700,000 cases of identity thefts occur each year. Stolen information off these computers cost victims over $765 million annually!
advanced data security services
For your peace of mind, GreenCitizen offers numerous data protection services:
On-Site Hard Disk Destruction Services
Hard Disk Destruction Services at GreenCitizen Eco-Centers
