Study Shows Recycled Computers Give Away Our Most Personal Information

[Audrey McNeil <audrey () riskbasedsecurity com>]

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/02/prweb11599162.htm



A study commissioned in Australia by the National Association for
Information Destruction (NAID), a non-profit, data protection watchdog
agency, has found significant amounts of personal information left on
recycled computers. For the organisations recycling their drives, this is a
data breach problem. For individuals, their most private information is at
risk.

The NAID-ANZ Secondhand Hard Drive Study, completed in January 2014 and
published 19 February 2014, showed that 15 of 52 hard drives randomly
purchased, approximately 30 percent, contained highly confidential personal
information. While seven of the 15 devices were recycled by individuals,
eight were recycled by law firms, a government medical facility, and a
community centre. These study results come just before the new Privacy Act
reforms will be effective 12 March, requiring organisations to safeguard
people's personal information.

"The study is rather simple," said NAID CEO Bob Johnson. "We randomly
purchased 52 recycled computer hard drives from a range of publicly
available sources, such as eBay. We then asked a highly reputable forensic
investigator, Insight Intelligence Pty. Ltd, to determine whether
confidential information was on those drives. The procedure used to find
the information is intentionally very basic and did not require an
unusually high degree of technical heroics. Had the data been properly
erased, it could not have been found."

Information on the hard drives in the NAID-ANZ study included spreadsheets
of clients' and account holders' personal information, confidential client
correspondence, billing information and personal medical information. For
example, Insight Intelligence found an entire email box with numerous
emails and attachments relating to the inner most workings of a medical
facility. Where the computer hard drives had been previously owned by an
individual they contained their confidential personal details, including
images of a highly personal nature and account information.

"While it might be tempting to dismiss these results given the sample
size," said Johnson. "It is actually very disturbing. When you consider
that the Australian Bureau of Statistics most recent estimates put the
number of computers retired annually at over 15 million, the likely amount
of private data put at risk in this manner is staggering. People from
anywhere in the world can buy these drives online, and you can be sure the
'bad guys' amongst them know how to use the information for evil. With the
viral nature of social media, one can only imagine what could happen if
someone decided to share any highly personal images and videos they have
found on these drives."

Also, where personal information was found, there were indications that
someone had attempted to remove the information but failed to effectively
do so. Mario Bekes, Insight Intelligence's managing director, said proper
removal of data from computer hard drives requires more than just pressing
the delete button.

"Even if they try to do it properly, private individuals and businesses
take a big risk by attempting to erase hard drives themselves," said Bekes.
"It is not really a do-it-yourself project."

Bekes also encourages consumers and businesses to be careful when selecting
a recycling service.

"It's a noble idea to recycle a computer, tablet or smartphone," said
Bekes. "But it's important to know the recycling company has the proper
technical expertise and takes data destruction seriously. Unfortunately,
many recyclers treat data removal rather casually."

"The effective disposal of confidential information is an issue that is
easily overlooked," said Johnson. "We consider it a public service to
remind policymakers and consumers of this ongoing vulnerability.
Unfortunately, those who capitalise on easy access to this information are
already aware of it."

NAID has offered to provide a detailed report of the results, as well as
the hard drives themselves, to the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) to facilitate an official regulatory inquiry. Should
the OAIC decline, the association will ensure the hard drives are securely
destroyed to protect those put at risk.

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