We’ve been running online computer resale, repair and recycling companies for a number of years and throughout the whole period, the most important (and I can’t stress this enough) part of the operation has been the protection of personal and corporate data/ information. This cannot be stressed enough. Everything from replying to emails to surfing the web and recycling/ disposing of your computer exposes you to fraud and identity theft.
The most overlooked portion of a computer’s life is that of it’s disposal and the protection of the data on it’s hard drive. Skipping or binning your computer without first thinking about the safety of your personal information is simply crazy. It’s like throwing your credit card in the garbage bin without first cutting it up.
Using a professional recycling service isn’t always the best solution. Similarly, the local municipal recycling center will not be the best place to just take your old computer. You need to treat the hard drive or remove it first. Professional services will ensure your old computer does not end up in landfill, but they usually don’t guarantee that your data will...