Tag: Secure Data Destruction

Cell Phone Destruction through Ship N Shred
Cell Phone Destruction through Ship N Shred

Old cell phones pose a risk of exposing personal and business information. Cell phones hold lots of sensitive information including login credentials, account numbers, contacts, and other data. Destroying your old phones is the only way to ensure that your data remains private. Cell phone companies and manufacturers may offer trade-in benefits for old phones, but often the benefit is not worth the risk. Factory resets have been proven ineffective at completely clearing your data. A study done at Cambridge University found that you can retrieve a phone’s master code 80% of the time after a factory reset. Hackers can use the code to access all of your “deleted” information to steal financial data and commit identity theft.  Why Should […]

How to Reduce E-Waste: Easy Steps to Follow
how to reduce e-waste at home, in the office, and raise awareness

Each year, the world produces mountains of e-waste, weighing in at over 60 million tons a year. As we continue to incorporate technology into every facet of our lives, that number continues to grow. As a result, figuring out how we reduce that e-waste becomes more and more important as the years go on.  Increasing the urgency to reduce our e-waste output is the toxicity of the equipment as it decomposes. Most electronics contain toxic chemicals and elements like cadmium, mercury, and other rare earth elements that can poison the soil, water, and air around their disposal site.  Recycling e-waste helps prevent this but reducing e-waste can also benefit the environment and, often, your wallet.  How to Reduce E-Waste at […]

IT Recycling for Security and E-Waste Reduction
office computers for it recycling

A company’s IT department is responsible for maintaining technology through its whole lifecycle. This commonly includes troubleshooting onboarding, technology setup, or, too often, asking if a coworker had restarted their computer to see if it solved the problem. However, the end of a piece of technology’s life cycle can not be solved with a simple restart. That requires recycling, and IT is often tasked with ensuring the safe disposal of the technology and its data.  The Importance of IT Recycling  While individuals should recycle their computers, phones, and other electronics to help reduce e-waste, the scale of the job for IT departments makes an effective recycling process even more crucial. When upgrading or replacing old systems, this often means hundreds […]

The Risks of Selling Electronics
Selling electronic risks featured image

If you have an old laptop, computer, or other piece of technology sitting around, it might be tempting to sell it and get some extra cash. While this can be a good solution, and a profitable one, you need to be aware of the risks that come with selling old electronics.  This is particularly important when it comes to laptops, cell phones, and computers. However, anything that contains your personal or payment information could be a risk if it’s sold to the wrong person.  How to Reduce the Risks of Selling Electronics  If that extra money in your pocket is too tempting to pass up, there are ways to make it safer. Selling the technology to a trusted friend or […]

Data Destruction Certificate: What is it, and Why is it Important?
Data Destruction Certificate

A data destruction certificate, also referred to as a Certificate of Destruction, is a crucial part of the technology destruction or recycling process. The certificate guarantees that all of the data on a piece of technology was properly destroyed.  With data breaches and cyber crimes on the rise, this guarantee is more important than ever.  What is a Data Destruction Certificate? The actual data destruction certificate differs based on the company doing the work. However, most follow the template set below. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a framework for best practices in media and data destruction.  The certificate typically contains the person and provider performing the service, information about the type of media they’re destroying, a […]

Remote Work E-Waste: Sustainable and Secure Solutions

Remote and hybrid work launched as a grand experiment as offices closed down due to the pandemic. A few weeks out of the office turned into months and years. Now, for many workers, a remote or hybrid workspace is the new normal. While remote work was a success for many, it’s also created a new problem. E-waste from remote work is now piling up in concerning amounts.  Workers sent home often required new technology, or had to bring office equipment with them. With computer life cycles typically around 3-5 years, it’s more than likely that much of that equipment sourced at the beginning of the pandemic is reaching its end. And with workers reliant on well-functioning technology now more than […]

Secure Data Destruction Through E-Recycling

Technology is everywhere in our personal and professional lives. Some professionals have work phones, some have work laptops, and some might even use their personal computers. While that technology will age out, the data stored on it won’t. Secure data destruction is crucial to keep that information out of the wrong hands. For criminals and bad actors, that data can be a gold mine. An old laptop, phone, or tablet typically contains a wealth of personal and professional information. If that data is stolen, it can lead to identity theft and data breaches. In a worst case scenario, stolen data can compromise the security of your business or family.  The risk is real, and even affects some of the world’s […]