Printers and Copiers Store More Information than You Might Think
|
Connecticut Better Business Bureau warns business owners and employees that digital copiers/scanners have long memories, and that criminals can retrieve virtually every document ever scanned by the device.
Since 2002, most digital copiers have been equipped with a hard drive that can store anything that is copied, printed, scanned, faxed or emailed. You may have been put at risk if you have ever used a copy center, your workplace or library to copy financial documents, health records, passports, Social Security Numbers and virtually anything else you scan. All of this is extremely valuable to identity thieves.
"In essence, networked business machines are a form of computer," according to Connecticut Better Business Bureau spokesman Howard Schwartz. "Like any computer, stored information can be retrieved by third parties. This is why consumers are encouraged to remove and destroy home computers' hard drives when they sell them, give them away or throw them out."
Businesses commonly lease copiers and return them when the contract is up. Criminals are known to purchase these machines at discount prices with the goal of retrieving the data stored within them.
Scanners and printers that hook up directly to your home computer are not a major risk, however, business machines are usually networked to computers, and networks can be hacked. Newer copiers have the ability to encrypt scanned information or clear their own memory, but the extra cost may be a deterrent to some business owners.
BBB offers the following tips on how to protect yourself at the office:
Ultimately, you are responsible for your personal information, so use every precaution available and be careful.
For more information, visit the Identity Theft Resource page. You can find qualified experts to help you buy, repair and protect your computers and related systems at bbb.org/. |
N