| Save precious data before equipment is recycled | | | | Obtain certifications from companies that recycle |
| It's important to save the precious data stored on | | | | computers and electronic equipment |
| computer hard drives before the equipment is | | | | When approaching a recycler, ask about their |
| recycled. Data should be completely removed | | | | policies about computer recycling and especially |
| from the hard drives before the equipment is sold | | | | about their computer privacy program. The |
| or recycled. | | | | recycler should be able to provide written |
| All drives should be formatted (erased) in order to | | | | certification that the data on the storage media |
| remove any data. All computers contain valuable | | | | has been destroyed. |
| private and financial data. Should this data fall into | | | | A certification detailing the removal method should |
| the wrong hands, it can have disastrous | | | | also be provided. This ensures that your data has |
| consequences for the owner. Identity theft is | | | | been protected. Computer owners should also |
| growing and to protect yourself, you should erase | | | | take many precautions before they hand over |
| any data before giving the computer away or | | | | the computer for recycling. The storage media |
| sending it to the recycler. | | | | should be completely overwritten to ensure that |
| Methods to destroy data effectively | | | | the data cannot be recovered. |
| Wipe off any media before it's given away. One | | | | Recyclers should be able to provide conclusive |
| of the ways is to physically destroy the drive. | | | | certification that all data was destroyed during |
| This includes all the disk drives, zip drives, tapes | | | | computer recycling. When approaching an agency, |
| etc and all other storage media. Physical | | | | there are a few questions that should be asked:o |
| destruction destroys the storage media and the | | | | The first question asked should pertain to the |
| data along with it. This means that the storage | | | | management policies that the recycling company |
| devices can't be exploited for unauthorized future | | | | adheres to. They should be able to provide |
| use. | | | | conclusive evidence that their facility takes |
| The second method is known as degaussing. This | | | | every-possible step to destroy any data |
| is where a magnetic device is used for removing | | | | remaining on computer storage media.o Ask the |
| the data from the hard disks. This method isn't | | | | recycler about the environmental management |
| 100% foolproof and sometimes the data (or | | | | certification that his company has in place. There |
| some parts of the data) might not be removed | | | | are various certification programs such as ISO |
| or destroyed. | | | | 14001 Environmental management certification |
| With recovery software readily available on the | | | | and certification by organizations such as |
| market, malicious people may recover parts of | | | | International Association of Electronics Recyclers |
| your data if it is not removed. This can be very | | | | (IAER) or the Institute of Scrap Recycling |
| damaging to the previous owner of the storage | | | | Industries (ISRI).o If the recycler isn't certified, |
| devices and the computers. | | | | then it's important to ask whether they follow |
| The third method is overwriting the data. There | | | | any recognized environmental management |
| are many programs that can help to overwrite | | | | guidelines such as the EPA's Plug-in to E-Cycling |
| the data. Programs are readily available online. | | | | Guidelines. |
| However, for the highest level of data security, | | | | Conclusion |
| ensure that you choose from a program that | | | | Thee questions above should give you insight into |
| meets or exceeds the US Department of | | | | the operations of any company that does |
| Defense standards for data destruction. | | | | computer recycling. |