| The mess with the Veterans Administration is scary | | | | pressurized air all over the box. |
| but there is an even larger problem looming on the | | | | But have you deleted all your old files? |
| horizon. It's just a matter of time. | | | | I mean REALLY deleted them? With all the rising |
| -FACT | | | | threats from identity theft, and Internet mischief, I don't |
| There're 575 mln PCs in use today, 1.3 bln by 2010 | | | | think it a bad idea to be proactive and clean-up that old |
| By 2010, mature markets in the United States, Europe | | | | hard drive. |
| and Asia-Pacific will have added 150 mln new PCs, | | | | So find out if important data was really gone after you |
| while emerging markets will have added 566 mln new | | | | hit the 'delete' key. |
| computers. Overall, there will be 1.3 billion PCs, up from | | | | A few studies have been done where a number of |
| 575 mln today. The number of PCs in emerging | | | | purchased second-hand computers ramdomly |
| markets will grow at a 31% compounded annual | | | | selected and taken it to the guys at the Computer |
| growth rate . | | | | Clinic , Anywhere,USA. |
| Now add to this number that each of these are | | | | They put our hard drive to the test. Within an hour, old |
| replaced on an average 3-5 yrs which is where the | | | | files were being retrieved all over the place. Financial |
| sleeping giant waits to strike. Now we're already | | | | information, emails, addresses, even digital photos -- all |
| looking at over 1 billion pc's waiting to strike back. | | | | of which were deleted by the previous users. |
| Now factor in Russia which has long been dubbed a | | | | The computer techs were able to retrieve all the data |
| hub of tech fraud, credit-card holders have been | | | | by using simple off-the-shelf software. |
| justifiably wary about using their plastic there. Travelers | | | | OK, so how do you really get rid of the old files? |
| have been warned that after charging a dinner to their | | | | The trick is to use software that measures up to |
| card in Russia, that number could be copied and used | | | | Department of Defense standards for deleting data. |
| even after the owner left the country. | | | | The software basically makes three passes over your |
| Apart from anecdotal evidence, there are some solid | | | | hard drive, writing and rewriting the data as it goes. It's |
| reasons for switching to a paranoid "cash only" | | | | the equivalent of someone scribbling over a sheet of |
| existence. Notably, an unknown number of PIN codes | | | | notebook paper, over and over again until it's nothing |
| giving access to credit- and debit-card accounts were | | | | more than an unreadable mess. |
| stolen in mid-1999 after a security breach at a | | | | You can buy the software at most software retailers, |
| Moscow card-processing center. Subsequently, many | | | | especially office supply chain stores like Staples and |
| cardholders had their checking accounts cleaned out, in | | | | Office Depot. My recommendation is a program called |
| a rare example of a massive PIN theft. | | | | "Drive Washer" -- it comes in a bright orange box (you |
| According to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center's | | | | can't miss it) and meets all the necessary specs. |
| 2001 Internet Fraud Report (PDF), Russia is at the | | | | Remember to look for the Department of Defense |
| bottom of a list of the top 10 countries for Internet | | | | standards marking on the box before you buy any |
| fraud perpetrators, with only 0.2 percent of the | | | | program. |
| identified perpetrators. | | | | Now, if you're on a budget there's an excellent |
| In the beginning of Id Theft one of the popular ways to | | | | shareware program called "Darik's Boot and Nuke". I |
| get the info needed to create a fraud was dumpster | | | | planned on listing more software here, but this one is |
| diving. This was accomplished by picking through the | | | | really all you need. |
| trash at a resaruant,mall,bank. There you could obtain | | | | If you just plan on donating your computer, then you |
| ssn,bank and cc acct numbers and so on. | | | | can't go wrong with Goodwill. Using DoD software, |
| The new breed of dumpster diver will go for your | | | | they wipe every hard drive that comes their way, as |
| hardrive of your old discarded pc. | | | | well as practicing environmentally friendly disposal |
| So you're looking to sell, or recycle your old computer. | | | | practices. |
| You've cleaned up the keyboard and spray | | | | |