Computer Repair Minneapolis Orphan Computers

"Data Security Risk Mitigation"
Hard Drive Data Sanitization - DOD Level Data Wipes
FTC-FACTA Regulations - Identity Theft Prevention
Responsible, Secure, Economic Repurposing of Retired Assets

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Recycle Securely and Responsibly With Orphan Computers!



 

Did you know

that an estimated 80% of Hard Drives are still functional when disposed of? It is further estimated that over 45% of these contain some level of confidential information. Researching that premise, two students of MIT's Laboratory of Computer Science purchased 158 drives on Line and from swap meets, on which they were able to retrieve over 5000 credit card numbers, medical reports, detailed financial information, as well as gigabytes of personal email.

Why should this information concern you?

Just think of the amount of personal data that the hard drive on your computer contains. Saved Pass codes to bank and credit card accounts, credit card numbers, social security numbers, years of tax return data. You certainly don't want that kind of information to fall into the wrong hands. If you operate a small business or as an agent use your personal computer or laptop for the business of your employer, you potentially have personal information belonging to your clients. This could be of particular importance when you go to retire and recycle an old computer.

According to the FTC's somewhat

confusing FACTA regulations, any business that maintains or otherwise possesses consumer information, derived from consumer reports for a business purpose, is required to properly dispose of such information or compilation. The FACTA rule's term "consumer information," includes records contained on electronic media such as the hard drives of your personal or office computers. FACTA provides for a range of civil liabilities and penalties for not completely destroying confidential personal data and financial records. A business or agent which fails to comply can be held liable for actual damages in a civil lawsuit brought by anyone whose identity is stolen as a result. If you are ready to retire outdated computer equipment, you need to be aware of what may be at stake for you.

Some businesses and individuals

being somewhat aware of these issues attempt to mitigate their data security risks by simply deleting the data. Some go as far as deleting the hard drive's partitions and reformatting . These measures are not adequate. Unless data is overwritten, it is easily recoverable by those knowing the appropriate techniques. Data on a reformatted drive is still vulnerable. Proper sanitization, wiping or shredding a drive, requires that the drive is accessed on a working system to have all of its data blocks overwritten redundantly with spurious data. This process, when done correctly, even on a modest sized hard drive, can take a considerable amount of time.

There are significant real and hidden

cost factors of disposing of obsolete surplus computers. Recycling fees for a computer and monitor average in the range of $60. Then there are aspects of storage, logistics, packing and shipping. Many organizations deposit their older equipment in some out-of-the-way storage area where it unintentionally stays indefinitely. Some businesses and individuals attempt to alleviate these issues by giving older units away to their employees, friends or family. Any of these options expose a business or agent to the potential security risks and liabilities associated with the loss or release of proprietary data, non-transferable software or confidential client information.

At Orphan Computers

we offer affordable and flexible outsourcing solutions to businesses or individuals with small office environments that require the disposal of computer equipment while ensuring the removal of all client data and software. It is our desire to accommodate you. Often same day or next day pick-ups are possible. Fees are reasonable and will be adjusted in relation to any residual value of the equipment in question. All hard drives in operable condition will be sanitized to US Department of Defense standards. Inoperable hard drives will be disassembled with data platters removed and destroyed. You will be provided with documentation of model and serial numbers of all sanitized drives, as well as the procedures used for data sanitization.

If you are ready to dispose

of your surplus computers, recycle them responsibly. Relinquish them in a secure and economic manner. First and foremost, we assure that all data has been methodically and completely overwritten. Only afterward, are computers repaired, restored and made available for adoption. When possible, we seek to repurpose retired assets. This is a far better option then to have your confidential data exposed to theft, or to see potentially useful technology end up in some land fill as toxic waste.



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