Identity Theft

I got this in an e-mail today, and it scared the bejeebers outta me. I want to share this with as many people as I can.

I really didn't know this!

http://www.cbs.com/cbs_evening_news/...page&play=true

Yikes!! That is creepy!

What's it about? I get "this video is unavailable"

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

What's it about? I get "this video is unavailable"

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Every scan you make on a digital copy machine has a copy burned into it's hard drive. All of your most intimate, private information....EVERYTHING. Health information, insurance information, payroll information, legal information...all of it. The hard drives are NOT wiped when they are sold or returned to the factory for resale. Your private information is there for the taking....and exploiting.

Perhaps you can Google the following information:

Copy Machines, a Security Risk?

Air Date: 04/19/10

CBS.com Clip 5:14
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the good, old-fashioned copy machine. But, as Armen Keteyian reports, advanced technology has opened a dangerous hole in data security.


Everyone needs to see this!

Wow! Scary

A few years ago when I was returning a Dell computer, I paid someone to come in and wipe the hard drive. He didn't do the standard reformat which actually leaves data on the hard drive. He did some kind of thing (root or boot something), that actually made it impossible for someone to retrieve the data from the drive. Cost me $80.00 but it was worth my peace of mind.

wow, I had no idea!

Now this really makes you feel good about handing your insurance card to the woman at the doctor office for them to copy, or your Medicare Card.
But this falls in the category of you can't do anything about it, so why worry.

Ah, this story. Yeah, it's a bit unsettling. Especially since your average person knows next to nothing to catch whether it's actually being reformatted properly.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

A few years ago when I was returning a Dell computer, I paid someone to come in and wipe the hard drive. He didn't do the standard reformat which actually leaves data on the hard drive. He did some kind of thing (root or boot something), that actually made it impossible for someone to retrieve the data from the drive. Cost me $80.00 but it was worth my peace of mind.

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Standard reformat simply reformats it once. All he did was use a simple program (which is free) to write a bunch of empty data to it a few times. The standard is 4 time - iirc harddrive holding more sensitive information in gov offices get closer to 10 rounds. Then reformated in the proper file system.
I wouldn't be duped into spending $8 on that, let alone $80.


And just another bit of information for one to think over. A lot of copiers, depending on how they're set up, have IP addresses - just like a computer (essentially that's what they are anyways). All one needs is that address. Even if a company's or private office's tech support did actually put a password on that copier, there are plenty of hacking tools to crack them. It would be a lot cheaper to hack into a copier than to wait for one to go up for sale used.

How exactly is your information "there for the taking" ?
If you have your own copy machine, you don't have to worry.
If you let others make copies of your documents- they're already making a hard copy that means you trust them enough to hand them your info?
I don't get how this is soo scary...
I mean, I've never personally sold or returned or recycled an old copy machine...I guess for those who have, it can be a problem. But I get a feeling that doesn't happen too often...

Originally Posted by ut0pia

How exactly is your information "there for the taking" ?
If you have your own copy machine, you don't have to worry.

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It's all saved on the hard drive in, iirc, java. As for using your own copy machine... do you not have a doctor? Go to school? Have insurance? Use a bank? A job? Pay bills? Use a law firm/tax service, etc? These are all things most of us have given up our personal information to - and not just SS#'s. In the case of a bank or utility your checking information could all be there, every number to each account.
This isn't about personal machines, don't confuse that at all. It's about the ones that companies have and will sell off (to try to recoup funds a little) when they upgrade.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I wouldn't be duped into spending $8 on that, let alone $80.

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Well, there was a little more too it than just sticking in a disk and reformatting.

I was returning the computer because I had nothing but problems. It was sent back and a new one sent to me, only to have the graphic card blow up on me 8 hours into my installation of my files. So he had to take the tower apart, and put in a different graphic card so that he could see something on the computer screen. I tried to do it myself but none of the graphic cards I had on hand would fit.

When they charge you tech rates of about $40.00 per hour, it adds up.

If it was just a straight reformat without having to fiddle with parts, I could have done it myself.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

If it was just a straight reformat without having to fiddle with parts, I could have done it myself.

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Parts are easy to do, easier than anything software side. But I do have an advantage in that I have multiple computers around here, spare cards, etc.
If I couldn't have gotten that computer to work I would have simply popped the hard drive out and into another computer.

For an idea as to skill level wise, I know how to build computers, fix them, some scripts, and basic stuff such as commands in windows and linux. But I don't know anything web related.

But, at least you were aware that you shouldn't be letting a computer out of your hands with having put anything on the hard drive. Many don't know this and will give computers away to friends, donate them, sell them, or even just toss them in the trash.

Wow had no idea, thanks for posting this. Luckily I have never needed to use a copier for many years. That is really scary, I missed this on TV.