BOISE, Idaho — Sending and receiving information digitally is the norm in society today, but forgetting to clear your personal information from devices before disposing them could leave you susceptible to hackers.
Better Business Bureau reports printers are commonly forgotten about when it comes to clearing personal information. Printer hard drives can store some of the most sensitive data, including birth certificates, income tax forms, and bank statements. Keeping that information secure is essential.
Personal home printers generally have smaller storage space, but it's important to wipe it clean before selling or getting rid of it. Make sure to check for any external storage like SD card readers. You can also unplug your printer for 60 seconds or more to purge temporary memory. Long-term memory is typically erased after more jobs are completed. You should also check your printer manual on steps to perform a factory reset.
Business owners should also be aware of potential issues. Commercial issues are often re-leased or resold so it's important to securely wipe the machine clean of sensitive information. That's especially important if a business is in a regulated industry that must comply with regulations like HIPAA or FACTA.
For more ways to stay secure online, check the BBB website. You can also find the latest scams in your area via the BBB Scam Tracker.
