CYBERSECURTIY TIP
Don’t just throw out that old computer or device
It could be the one thing that ruins you
Getting rid of old computers or servers? Did you know that the components used in technology equipment are not landfill-safe? On top of the environmental hazards, unprotected e-waste typically contains a lot of confidential and private information in the form of saved passwords, Internet history, and files left on the retired computer or server.
As a first prevention step, find a local recycling facility where e-waste can be safely disposed of. And make sure to take the following #1 security precaution before you haul it off: Remove and destroy the hard drives. A drill and hammer usually do the trick just fine. Alternatively, many companies that shred paper documents will also destroy your hard drives.
We were recently contacted by an IT director who was desperate to find out if there was a way to remotely wipe hard drives after he found three of his company’s old computers on eBay. He found out the hard way: Do not allow the recycling company to “destroy” the drive for you.
We offer free e-waste recycling services to our clients! Just let us know, and we’ll pick up your old hardware and make sure it’s properly recycled.
Don’t forget other e-waste, such as mobile phones, copy machines, and any other device that ever touched your company data. Give serious thought to what data is on any device before you recycle it.
Have questions about cybersecurity or some other IT-related issues? Access our calendar here https://rts.sh/discovery to book a quick, 10-minute call.
