1. Shred Your documents
It is surprising how many companies still store massive amounts of documents that are legally required to be destroyed. Shredding old documents is the secure way to ensure that confidential information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Paper Cuts has been Red Deer and Central Alberta’s source for secure document shredding since 1993.
2. Watch your Copy Machine
Most people don’t realize it, but using a public copy machine could be dangerous for your information. Always ask the person in charge of the copy machine what they do with the scanned documents. Companies who own or rent copy machines should destroy the hard drives of the copy machines before selling or returning them. Below is a video that exposes the truth about what information can be found on copiers.
3. Document storage
All companies and individuals are required to store certain documents. It is important that these stored documents are kept secure. Keeping them in locked rooms, or with secure document storage companies is a great way to ensure confidential documents don’t end up in the wrong hands. Individuals might consider keeping personal information such as passports, birth certificates, and other government identification stored in a safty deposit box or a personal safe.
4. Hard Drive destruction
When your computers are ready for recycling, remove the hard drive from each unit and have them destroyed. Even if you erase the information on the hard drive, it can still be recovered via free programs! If you cannot destroy the hard drive, use a special program that eraces the hard drive 5-7 times, and then writes 0′s over each block. Although this still isn’t as secure as destroying the drive, it greatly reduces the liklyhood of your data falling into the wrong hands.
5. Don’t use email or internet on computers that hold confidential information
Sometimes a virus can get onto your computer and compromise your sensitive information. Even visiting a website can create a malicious file on your computer. If your company store accounting information or other confidential information on work computers, consider getting a second computer just for internet and email. By keeping your accounting computers (and others with sensitive information) away from email and web serfing, you greatly reduce the chance of getting a malicious bug. Computers have become so small and inexpensive that it is easy to connect a second computer to a desk. Never open spam e-mails or download files from website you don’t trust.
6. Use strong passwords with uppcase, lower case, and special charictors
Creating a strong password doesn’t have to be difficult. Just combine things that you already know, such as your parents first phone number combined with your grade one teacher’s name. Then use the shift key on part of the name and part of the number and you instanly have a strong password. Change your password every 6 months. You can change your password buy changing where you use the shift key, or by reversing the order of the name/numbers. When choosing a password, avoid using things like a mothers maiden name, your social security or insurance number, or a birthdate.