Most people are aware of the need to shred their important documents and keep their computers secure. What most people don’t know is that digital photocopiers, scanners and multi-function printers have hard drives that store all of the information that passes through them. Modern technology has made huge advancements and this once simple technology has become more complex than most people can imagine.

The equipment that’s found in every office and in a lot of homes, functions more like a computer than a single function machine. In order for these machines to perform more than one task simultaneously, the information requested has to be stored somewhere. Securing your hard drive with encryption, or a password can prevent information from falling into the wrong hands. It is equally as important to plan for the time when your copier is no longer your copier.

Copy machines are usually leased and will be returned to the leasing company or dealer for resale or release to another company. Erasing the hard drive in a leased copy machine often gets overlooked. Even where the contract says the leasing company will erase the hard drive, it is often a step that gets skipped in the process.

Sure, hacking into a photocopier or scanner seems like it would never happen. However, these types of machines are gold mines for identity thieves. You can become a victim of identity theft with a small amount of information being released. Your birthday, address and social security number are the only pieces of identifying information needed to steal someone’s identity. Thieves tend to be well-versed and know how to put the pieces of information together to obtain your private information.

Protect yourself. Protect your employees. Secure the hard drives in your office equipment and destroy them before turning them back into the leasing company you use. All Points Mobile Shredding offers on-site hard drive destruction to ensure your privacy and keeps you protected from identity theft.