Out with the Old Computer, In with the New…But You Still Have a Little Bit More to do…
So, you’re buying a new computer.
You’ve done your research, considered your needs for memory and processing speed, prepared the files for transfer and played with your favorite selection in the store. You’ve found the best deal and set aside the money. You even know what color you want. Thrilling. You’ll soon be enjoying silky-smooth streaming, the latest operating system and screen resolution to top any that you have seen up to now. The processor is the latest and greatest. You can’t wait to brag to friends and family—just a little of course. Good for you!
But there’s one more thing to deal with: Your old computer.
Moving it off your desk to the front hall closet is fine for a day or two. But then what—the curb? In aword, no. You may be moving a new machine in, but hang on. Your commitment to your last one isn’t over just yet.
First let’s look at your hard drive. There’s important data on it. Yes, you put all files on an external drive and will be transferring them. But if you reformatted your hard drive afterward, well…you didn’t actually do much. The files are still there, with only the file directory cleared. Any skilled hacker with the motivation could get to your sensitive data. And overwriting software isn’t foolproof or totally reliable. In this world of sophisticated hackers, your data security measures really just have to be both.
So, you must tear the thing to pieces. Literally.
The most secure method of protecting data after a hard drive is retired is to shred it to little, bent-up pieces that no hacker can make heads or tails of. To protect your data from ever, ever being found, that little fee (often around $5 per drive) is well worth it. Data problem solved.
Great. But wait a second. You may be excited, but don’t start loading software on the new computer just yet: the rest of your old one is still in your closet. And it’s loaded with toxics and heavy metals, as well as perfectly reusable components and materials.
So, your second step: get it to an e-cycling facility! They’ll pull it apart, recycle the plastics, chips and wires, and safely dispose of the toxics. And you’ll be the guy on the block who can boast a new computer, AND the smartest, most responsible disposal of your old one.
Now that’s bragging rights.
Frank Gustafson is the CEO and Founder of RenovoData Services a Minneapolis shredding and electronics recycling firm with a Zero Landfill Guarantee. RenovoData Services offers businesses responsible end of life IT solutions while also ensuring the destruction of confidential data through hard drive shredding. Follow him on Twitter at @Renovods.