That old "object reuse" problem ...

[security curmudgeon <jericho () attrition org>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rob, grandpa of Ryan, Trevor, Devon & Hannah" <rmslade () shaw ca>

UBC graduate students and instructors visited Ghana, China (the world's 
largest electronic waste dump, in Guiyi), and India to find out what 
happens to electronic trash.  Criminals scour the hard drives for credit 
card information and other personal information.  (The electronic waste 
also pollutes the environment and poisons scavengers seeking to extract 
metals.)

In Ghana, students bought a hard drive originally used by U.S. defence 
contractor Northrop Grumman, containing about 50 files marked as 
competitive and sensitive, including information on government contracts 
for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Northrop spokesman Thomas 
Henson said that the company has a detailed procedure to dispose of 
electronics and the drive was likely stolen from a vendor that handles its 
disposed electronics.  (Yeah, right.)

(Maybe the Chinese don't have to hack into important computers to get 
sensitive info ...)

http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/media/releases/2009/mr-09-077.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/News/team+uncovers+sensitive+defence+records/1723318/story.html

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/ghana804/

http://www.timescolonist.com/Technology/secrets+found+trash/1723812/story.html

http://fergdawg.blogspot.com/2009/06/ubc-journalism-students-find-sensitive.html
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