Document Shredding – Avoiding Identity Theft

Confidential waste, what is it and why has it becomedrives.
so important to be able to dispose of it safely?February 2003 saw The Waste Electrical and
In this cyber age of all things internet, cyber crimeElectronic Equipment Directive or “WEEE
and particularly identity theft is rife. How many ofDirective” become European law. Wikipedia
you have experienced some sort of attempted fraudclaims, “The directive imposes the responsibility
on one of your credit cards for example? I am surefor the disposal of waste electrical and electronic
the number is a lot higher than we would feel evenequipment on the manufacturers of such equipment.
remotely comfortable with.Those companies should establish an infrastructure
Banks, retailers, government offices and many otherfor collecting WEEE, in such a way that "Users of
businesses have become the target of cyberelectrical and electronic equipment from private
criminals who it seems will stop at nothing to get holdhouseholds should have the possibility of returning
of people’s personal information that is stored enWEEE at least free of charge”.
masse on computers and other systems.Confidential waste companies are now recognising
Bearing all this in mind it is evident that the disposal ofthe importance of carrying out their services on your
this information or data has become more crucial thanown premises so that you are able to witness first
ever. In the past year there have been some highhand the destruction of the data for extra peace of
profile examples of data going missing or being lost.mind.
Lost is one thing, but lost into the hands of someoneAn effective and quick way of destroying private
intent on causing harm is another and is unacceptable.documents, the actual document shredding itself
With lost confidence and financial crisis in full swing, itoften takes place in a self contained shredding mobile
is now up to businesses and organisations to getvehicle. Another benefit of shredding on site is the
their houses in order and provide security for theknowledge that documents won’t be lost or
public. Safe ways of disposing confidential waste andleaked en route to another location.
document shredding should be high on the priority list.It really is imperative unless you have your own
Confidential waste disposal companies now have theirfacilities that one of these companies is involved in
opportunity. In the past it may have just been paperthe disposing of any of your private data and
that these companies dealt with but now they willdocument shredding whether it is waste paper, hard
also shred or destroy electronic devices such as harddrive destruction or other electrical equipment.