When you get rid of your old computer, thumb drives, phones… do you delete the data… and then… just get rid of them?
Even if you delete your stuff, you could be putting your sensitive data at risk.
I’ll put it the same way that a prosecutor addresses this in court… imagine your data being a library—all of your data on shelves. And everything is organized by one of those old-school card catalog systems, where each card references a book on a shelf…
Suppose I were to take a card catalog out of that cabinet and cut it up. Does that mean the book on the shelf magically disappears? Nope.
The same is true when you delete a file from your computer. You’re only deleting the reference to the file (and what’s protecting it from being overwritten)… not destroying the file itself.
A recent study from a data recovery specialist found millions of deleted files from drives that were improperly formatted… being sold online. Yikes.
This is why cybercriminals like buying used hard drives for the sole reason of recovering your data from them. Specifically looking for confidential information, business information, your client’s data, etc…
It’s so easy to forget about your old stuff after you’ve migrated everything to that shiny new tech you bought.
Even if the drive is damaged! And yes… even if the drive is encrypted. In all these cases, there’s still a chance that data can be recovered.
Think about it another way: would you lock your important documents in a briefcase, clean the outside of it… and then just give it away?
So what can you do to protect yourself?
- Properly wipe or destroy old hard drives, thumb drives, etc…
- Consider hiring a professional ‘geek’ for your hardware upgrades
- Evaluate your overall data security practices
Don’t let your old hard drives become a liability, especially if they contain any of your client’s confidential data. If you’re upgrading your tech, consider hiring a professional to handle the data transfer. They can also help to ensure your old devices are cleaned properly or destroyed.
It’s a small investment to make for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe from anyone looking to take advantage of it.
Don’t take chances with your data – take action to protect it:
