Data, information and knowledge are often interchangeably used in the digital information space. All these terms however attempt to refer to the quantities, characters or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, which may be stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical or mechanical recording media.

This recording on magnetic, optical or mechanical recording media means that important pieces of information can still be retrieved on a broken printer, computer, scanning machine, etc. When it comes to printers, all printers keep internal records of all the data that is printed or scanned on it, and at what time the machine was used. This will most likely include the file name, a timestamp, and the IP address from where the request came. In some cases, however, it will also include a full copy of the printed or scanned documents.

This therefore means certain government agencies as well as businesses in the health care or finance fields who deal with highly sensitive customer data that cannot be revealed to anyone except authorised users can unintentionally expose this sensitive data if the right data safety practices and expertise are not used when disposing of electronic products.

What is data safety?

Data safety or security refers to the protection of digital data, such as those in a database or electronic machines from unwanted actions of unauthorised users. This is because data residues often remain even on machines or electronic products which are no longer functioning and can easily be retrieved on the dumpsite by criminals or people with ulterior motives.

How to sanitise electronic gadgets before disposal

Computer-You can use a disk cleaning software designed to permanently remove the data stored on a computer hard drive to prevent the possibility of recovery.

Smartphones and tablets – You can ensure that all data is removed from your device by performing a “hard reset.” This will return the device to its original factory settings. Each device has a different hard reset procedure, but most smartphones and tablets can be reset through their settings.

Digital cameras, media players, and gaming consoles – You can do this by performing a standard factory reset (i.e., a hard reset) and physically remove the hard drive or memory card.

Office equipment (e.g. copiers, printers, fax machines, multifunction devices) – One helpful measure is removing any memory cards from the equipment. You can then perform a full manufacture reset to restore the equipment to its factory default.

Over and above the listed preventive measures, physical destruction of a device is the ultimate way to prevent others from retrieving your information.

South Africa’s first choice electronic waste recycler has mastered the process of secure destruction of electronic waste and data. Desco has learnt through the many years of experience the dangers associated with poor disposal of e-waste and poor data destruction processes.

Before recycling / destroying electronics which comes through to Desco, an option to be fixed and put back into the market is left to the client to consider. However, this is completely dependent on the client’s decision for Desco to reuse or recycle/destroy the equipment received. Desco must therefore first get prior approval of the client before refurbishing their E-waste, as clients request Desco to do secure destruction which must be honoured hence the clients decision to use Desco in the first place.

Desco benchmarks its processes across world-wide boundaries, according to sustainable   technological innovation and processes, specifically those linked to e-Waste. Desco offers:

• Data destruction @ R20/unit
• Secure electronic component destruction of R10/kg
• All units brought for destruction are physically destroyed beyond repair, this includes hard drives, magnetic tapes, tablets, cell phones, GPS units and more
• Following the destruction, a certificate is issued to the client to confirm DESCO followed all procedures in order to eliminate any chance of data leaks or electronic components put back into the market

Desco has become a reliable electronic recycling service provider which ensures that electronic waste is recycled responsibly with confidential data safeguarded from any acts of criminality. As a precaution, employees are also trained in this regard. Through this training, they are taught that if you see the yellow bio-hazardous or radioactive symbols, you should not touch that e-waste but report it immediately. Desco can be contacted here.

*Additional info source -The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).