By: D. Jones, Recovery Advocate
Tired of that old computer and ready to get a bigger, better, faster model? Let’s face it, we all use computers and most households have at least one. The way current technology moves so quickly our systems are outdated by the time we finish paying them off. If you’re thinking of purchasing a new computer or trading one in here are a few things to consider:
- Back up all your data from the old system and then wipe the drive
- Purchase a drive wiper program that removes all sensitive data from your hard drive and gets it ready for it’s new owner
- Purchase software that transfers data from your old computer to your new one
Maybe you remember hearing the story, a while back, about the cell phone users that bumped up to a new plan and changed phones. All of those phones were supposed to be wiped before resale but some of them were not, leaving the previous owner’s personal information in the hands of the new owner. Or perhaps you heard about the more recent snafu with Loyola University where a computer containing SSNs of 5800 students was scrapped. You guessed it - the computer's hard drive wasn't erased.
Keeping these precautions in mind when buying a new computer can really help protect your information from falling into the hands of identity thieves.
