May 2008 Tech Tip

“How To Safely Dispose Of Old Computers,

Storage Disks, And Other Data Carrying Devices”

First, it’s an environmental hazard you could be fined for. Personal computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices contain lead and a variety of other hazardous materials that are detrimental to the environment. And because electronics are becoming obsolete at an ever faster rate, their volume is growing two to three times faster than any other type of waste. If you want to find a center that recycles old electronics equipment, go to the Environmental Protection Agencies web site: www.epa.org.

Second of all, identity theft is at an all-time high and it’s absolutely critical to make sure you dispose of old PCs, laptops, and diskettes carefully to prevent criminals from getting access to payroll information, social security numbers, passwords, financial information, and other sensitive data contained on these devices. Here’s a simple 3-step system that will keep your information safe:

Keep your old device around for a few months until you are absolutely certain that you transferred all of the data to another storage device or PC.
Next, you need to make sure the hard drive or device is wiped clean of any data you had stored on it — and simply deleting the files is not enough. We recommend you call us about clearing the hard drive from any old PCs you are disposing of, rather than attempting to do it on your own.
Finally, if you are getting rid of an old PC or laptop, you may consider donating it to a charity such as Youth for Technology (youthfortechnology.org) or Computers with Causes (www.computerswithcauses.org). Many of these organizations will clean your hard drive to prevent identity theft, and you can write off the donation on your taxes!

Want a fast and easy way to safely dispose of your old electronics? Call us! Our professional team will make sure the data is not only correctly transferred to your new device, but we’ll also make sure the data left on the old device is completely erased AND we’ll help you donate it or eliminate it in a safe “green” way!

Share and Enjoy: