The FTC’s publication, entitled “Copier Data Security: A Guide for Businesses”, provides consumers and businesses with a basic background on copier operation, lifecycles, encryption, overwriting, and security advice.
The guide offers information and advice such as planning management and maintenance with staff, security options for data storage, overwriting, and safe disposal or destruction of hard drives.
Various American states have considered and passed legislation alerting users of the security risks, with some forcing manufacturers and resellers to provide advice on deleting stored data.
This is often very important with copiers, as information is stored on an internal hard drive, which needs to be properly cleared of data before a device is sold on or thrown away.
The Recycler previously reported on the dangers of disposing with unwanted copiers, with politicians and OEMs also working towards raising awareness in consumers.