May 2, 2009 - Private Secrets found on Used Computers
BBC reports that researchers from BT and the University of Glamorgan purchased about 300 used computers from the United Kingdom, USA, Germany France and Australia. Most were from computer fairs and online auction sites - and 34% still held personal data.

This is a lesson to all that when you are done with your computer, your data may still be on the hard drive. Even if you delete the contents of the drive, cheap forensic software can easily recover those files in seconds. Some of the data that was found by these researchers included test launch procedures for missiles, security logs from an embassy, hospital records and more. One of my clients has data that is of the utmost confidentiality and we never get rid of the old hard drives when a computer is taken out of service. Only the other parts are recycled or thrown away. I have a box of about 70 or 80 hard drives that I keep adding to until such time I feel like destroying them physically - the only way to really know that the data is unrecoverable.

It is poor practice from agencies that we entrust our personal data to not go to the extra mile to ensure that old computers and hard drives are disposed of properly. This is equivalent of an average person placing your personal documents (unshredded) on the curb for garbage day. We know better than that now. Personally, I think these companies should be fined for improperly handling our data. A hacker could easily do the same and buy used computers on the web and find a load of confidential data that could be used for identity theft and even terrorism.

It is also worth mentioning that if you ever purchase a USB drive, external hard drive or other storage device and it breaks down on you to not return it if you had ever placed sensitive data on it. You are better off to absorb the cost and go buy another instead of returning it to the store at which you bought it because you don't know where your data is going to end up and who may gain access to it.

With the new electronic recycling program starting up in Ontario (see www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca) it will be interesting to know if they will ensure that the recyclers follow the RCMP standards of removing data - I wouldn't bet my identity on it.

Final Thought: Remove your hard drive before you get rid of your computer.
Don't know how, click here (all you need is a screw driver).