November 19, 2008
Document Destruction, Houston
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Document shredding has been recognized as the efficient method for the disposal of documents. In homes shredding is cumbersome and inefficient. Businesses find it difficult to maintain a dedicated employee to perform the task of document shredding.
Most companies don’t generate the necessary volumes to warrant the use of dedicated personnel for shredding tasks. The employee in charge of maintaining the records is also required to perform the task of destroying them. This eats into the productivity time of the employee. It could also cause a stressed employee to lax on the proper shredding for documents leaving room for information theft.
This has led to the birth of a line of service that is dedicated to the shredding of documents. The professional Houston shredding services provide dedicated service of destroying documents. Through their secure document shredding services they provide businesses with the necessary protection for their information.
A professional shredding service offers a responsible way of document removal and destruction. The general method employed by these companies includes secure document retrieval, document removal, shred and disposal of the shredded materials in a clean and efficient manner.
Most professional shredding services provide offices with a secure bin which is maintained under lock and key, to deposit their documents into. An employee of the service then visits the office in his official truck that holds the shredding device in it. He uses his set of keys to securely remove the bag containing the documents that are inside the bin to the waiting truck. Then these documents are taken outside to the truck and shredded on-site. The company can choose to supervise the process of shredding if they so choose. The service provider then issues a certificate of destruction of shredding to the business. The shredding is done with high quality blades that turn all the documents into meaningless confetti thus ensuring proper destruction. These bales of paper are then sent for recycling and that fulfils your duty for environmental protection.
Without the use of these services a company is bound to lose valuable time and productivity can also be compromised. There are many such services available. Finally, a word of caution, businesses must consider the credentials, the trust policy of the service and proximity before handing over sensitive documents.
November 9, 2008
Anything Texas
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Identity frauds are the growing concern of the information world today. We are already aware of the different means adopted by identity thieves for tapping into personal information that is sent electronically. However research has shown that identity frauds and business espionage are committed more from the information stolen from traditional paper based documents rather than electronic media. An individual’s credit rating and reputation are compromised, as are those of family members and business associates.
Strict laws are in place to punish identity thieves and law makers use efficient tracking methods to bring offenders to justice. These are always a step too late for the victims. So prevention is not just the best policy but it should be the only policy. Shredding documents helps eliminate this problem. Document shredding ensures that the paper based documents are kept from falling into the wrong hands. Shredded documents are impossible to reattach protecting the information the page contained.
Homes and Businesses alike accumulate document that need to be destroyed due to a number of factors. May be the information has turned outdated or you might have converted to an electronic media for storage or it might just be to make more space. The only safe method of discarding documents is to shred them, be it credit card or phone bills at home or delicate customer information.
Even a noble idea of recycling paper waste might impact your reputation or your business. Crumpling paper to discard, leaves open the sensitive information it contains at the mercy of thieves and competitors alike. Information thieves are not above dumpster diving. Shredded documents can be segregated for recycling instead. This ensures security as the document cannot be pieced together a second time.
Document shredding is not restricted to the print media. It extends to discarded CDs, hard drives, diskettes, DVDs, film, ID badges, X-rays, Binders, credit cards, video tapes and the list is endless. Any number of things that have out lived their use may contain a lot of personal information.
Professional shredding services are available to take on a bulk of work. This enables to save precious time and helps increase employee productivity. A professional service also eliminates time spent on segregating paper from binders. And it is fuss free and takes care of the hassle of dedicating valuable employee time. Most services offer onsite shredding that enable you to witness firsthand that your documents are indeed destroyed.
With importance of protecting private information and client interests being foremost in our minds shredding has come as an answer to a disturbing problem.
November 2, 2008
On-Site Shredding in the Press
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Identity thefts are one of the greatest concerns, today, all around the world. There is constant news of misuse of personal information coming from across the globe. Electronic medium of disbursing information is constantly revising their privacy policies and introducing high levels of encryption for their data. However, information theft is not local to the electronic media alone.
It would be surprising to note that majority of information thefts and business espionage still happen from the traditional paper documents. Disposal of these documents is now in focus as they contain plenty of sensitive information that could be misused. We are now aware that misuse of private information can lead to loss of respect and trust. These are recognized as the basis of businesses. Therefore, the focus now is not just on document disposal but efficient document disposal.
The most sought after method of document disposal is document shredding or paper shredding. Shredding of documents ensures that the important pages are turned into a mass of meaningless confetti. Shredders are a must in all businesses to protect the identity of client or their products.
It would be most disappointing to find that your competitor has gotten hold of your businesses’ new proposal data. Or there has been a leak from your client database. It would be embarrassing to have to inform your client or employee of the unfortunate leak of their private data. It would cause the personnel working for you and the client to distrust you in the future. A client might withdraw a contract or not approach you for further work.
Business espionage counts on your negligence to properly discard your documents for obtaining access to company secrets. It can result in great financial and client base loss if your competitor out quotes you. Many times one might throw suspicion on trustworthy employees when the mistake would be on sheer negligence. Such situations cause a bad taste on the part of the company and leave the employee displeased. A displeased employee may either show low productivity or might leave for a different job.
Such unpleasant situations can be prevented by adopting proper paper shredding methodologies. A safe disposal system guarantees a business against loss of personnel, finance and safe guard’s client details.
October 25, 2008
Houston, Paper Shredding
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The world faces extreme challenges of terrorism, and identity thefts are becoming a menace that is abused frequently in terror acts. As a citizen of this world one has to take responsibility for the correct disposal of documents. There is now greater awareness for the need to shred documents.
Paper documents are readily recognizable documents that require shredding. This is already practiced in many organizations. We immediately think of legal organizations when we think of paper shredding. These images have been ingrained in our memory by the frequent use of such scenes in movies. However, it is a misconception that shredding is exclusive to such high level firms and their documents. Among this list of misconceptions is the kind of documents to be shred. Paper documents are not the only kind of documents that need to be disposed by shredding.
To understand the types of documents to be shred, one must first acquire an understanding of the different types of personal documents and the different media that is used for its storage. Personal and private documents range from contact details to details of medical treatments. It begins with the many recognized details of a person’s or client’s contacts. It extends from this to the project records, training manuals, presentation materials, home videos, medical scans, x-rays, treatment records, and many more.
The Medias used are not restricted either. It definitely starts with paper documents, IDs, credit cards, ATM cards, ID cards, x-ray sheets, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, Microfilm, film, prototypes, product samples, computer backups, hard disks, casino chips, money, lottery tickets, checks, pill bottles, misprints, clothing, shoes, toys, recalled items, and many more.
The media ranges from paper, plastics and metals. Any disposing of these materials must be done by the responsible shredding of the documents. Shredding and incinerating of the media makes them theft proof.
June 26, 2008
Houston, Paper Shredding
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There are many reasons to shred your important documents but perhaps the most important is protection from identity theft. Identity theft has become increasingly common over the last 10 years and according to the US Federal Trade Commission 9,000,000 Americans have their identity stolen each year. Identity theft is the act of one person assuming the identity (by using a social security number, credit card number, or other personal data) of someone else typically for monetary gain. In 2006, a large survey on identity fraud was conducted by the Council of Better Business Bureaus and Javelin Strategy & Research. That report found that the average criminal accumulates $6383 in money and merchandise per identity theft and the national cost of identity theft is 56.6 billion per year. It also found that 90% of stolen data was acquired through trash and other non-electronic methods, not through internet transactions and the age group most likely to have their identity stolen are 35-44.
There are many ways in which your identity can be stolen but the easiest is by the information most of us throw away. Many people don’t realize how often they leave their important information vulnerable but criminals are well aware and ready to take advantage rummaging through the trash for treasure. Credit card statements, bank statements, credit offers, utility bills, and other correspondence received by mail are prime targets for thieves.
Though most companies have become more careful about your information on correspondence, thieves have become better at fishing for information. A talented thief can take your statements and talk customer service representatives into releasing other information. For example, a woman may steal a mans information and then pretend to be his wife to obtain personal information. It’s also easy to reroute other information and offers to a different address where they then begin to set up accounts in your name. Once one account is opened the rest is easy. That account is used to obtain credit cards, credit lines, and even bank loans and accounts.
In 1998, The US Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act. This act made identity theft a Federal crime that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. In addition, it allows victims of identity theft to seek monetary restitution and allows the Secret Service, FBI, and state and local police agencies to pursue the criminals.
The need for paper shredding in Houston is urgent. According to a report on KPRC Local 2 News (April 28, 2006), “identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States and Houston is the No. 1 spot for this crime in Texas”. In 2005 and 2006 Houston Police Department’s Financial Crimes unit had more than 32,000 cases open for investigation. If you are throwing any piece of mail away with personal information…you need to shred it! Simply tearing papers is not enough. Criminals are patient and will spend the time to reconstruct these pieces from your trash like jackpot puzzle. Using a shredder will make it impossible for criminals to use correspondence to steal your identity.
Personal shredders are inexpensive but can give you security that is priceless. If you have a small business or a large amount of documents to shred you may want to consider using a shredding service. These companies have locations you can take your document to to be shredded and will also shred on site for an additional charge. Most also recylcle the paper for the benefit of the environment.
June 2, 2008
Anything Texas
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From the Texas Attorney General’s website…..
New Texas laws underscore the need for businesses to be extremely careful when handling and disposing of their customers’ personal information. Simply exposing the information to the risk of identity theft carries some hefty penalties, irrespective of whether the information ended in the wrong hands.
Some of the most common ways in which businesses mishandle sensitive information is by failing to shred receipts and other documents with customers’ personal data before throwing them into the trash. Several large companies which have improperly disposed of records with information such as credit card and Social Security numbers faced swift legal action by the Attorney General. Our investigators conduct routine spot-checks around the state as part of ongoing enforcement efforts. This office also investigates other types of neglect by businesses, such as improperly safeguarded databases or Web pages through which consumers submit personal information.
Penalties against businesses who violate Texas’ identity theft provisions are substantial. For example, New provisions of Chapter 35 of the Business and Commerce Code require businesses to develop retention and disposal procedures for their clients’ personal information. The law provides for fines of up to $500 for each record that could potentially land in the wrong hands. And the new Identity Theft Enforcement Act could mean fines of up to $50,000 for each similar violation – even for a single record. Additionally, businesses that give consumers specific reassurances about how their privacy will be protected could face penalties of up to $20,000 per violation if they fail to live up to those promises.
The reason for these strict new laws is clear: They help protect millions of Texans from becoming the next victims of identity theft. The laws also help safeguard the business community at large, which is facing mounting losses as a result of identity theft.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country. According to federal statistics, more than 20,000 Texas families file identity theft complaints each year – and that number simply reflects those who are aware they are victims. For many consumers, it takes months or even years to discover they have been victimized, and by that point the harm against them is substantial. Nationally, it is believed that identity theft drains at least $50 billion from our economy – most of it attributed to losses businesses must absorb when identity thieves run up huge lines of credit and make other purchases under the name of their victims.
For consumers, becoming the victim of identity theft is an emotional nightmare. They often face countless hours filing police reports and communicating with merchants, credit card companies and credit bureaus to clear up their name. They must often defer important plans, such as purchasing a home or new car, and will find it exceedingly difficult to obtain lines of credit for months or even years.
Businesses are hit hard, too. With just a few pieces of a consumers’ personal information some criminals have been able to secure high-limit credit cards and even buy cars or homes under their victims’ names. Not only does this hurt the bottom line of the business community at large, but could ruin a small business if it extends large lines of credit to even a single identity thief.
Businesses understandably want to know what they can do to help prevent identity theft. Since a business’ size and the types of data it handles can vary widely, each business should carefully review its practices and put in place necessary measures that will prevent clients’ personal information from ending up in the wrong hands.
The following are some of the types of client information most susceptible to being mishandled or improperly discarded by businesses:
- Credit and debit card numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Bank account information
- Mother’s maiden names
- Passwords
- Dates of birth
- Account numbers within the business (i.e. membership number)
This information commonly appears in the following paper documents and electronic files:
- Receipts
- Refund forms
- Credit and employment applications
- Bank statements
- Checks / money orders
- IRS-related documents
- Personnel files
- Medical records
- Sweepstakes entry forms
- Email / Hard copy correspondence
- Disks, magnetic tape, and all other data storage devices
- Discarded computers
It’s important to note that Texas law does not take the age of the documents or information in question into account. For example, even if a credit card slip improperly thrown into the trash shows the number of an expired card, the business could still be liable under the law. Some businesses sued by the Attorney General erroneously thought that by purging documents that were many years old there was no risk to consumers. But when those files were shown to reveal full Social Security numbers, which are assigned for the life, it is clear that even “old” files can create new harm. Likewise, expired credit cards are often reissued under the same number, but with a different expiration date that an identity thief can figure out quickly through trial and error.
Each business should develop a thorough list of all the types of information it handles, who handles it, where that information is maintained and how it is disposed of when it is no longer needed. There should be clear written protocols about how to properly handle that information and how to dispose of it, which could mean:
Shredding applicable paper documents Permanently deleting electronic files Properly destroying / wiping old computers and data storage devices
Businesses should be particularly careful when disposing of storage devices and old computers. Simply hitting the “delete” button seldom erases data from a disk or hard drive permanently – savvy identity thieves can easily retrieve that information. Businesses should rely on their internal computer experts or consult with an outside vendor to explain proper permanent deletion of electronic files. It might be necessary to ask the vendor to professionally “wipe” or remove and destroy a hard drive before getting rid of an old computer or server.
Similarly, businesses that obtain consumers’ personal information through Web sites, such as accepting credit cards to purchase goods and services, should be especially careful that those pages are properly safeguarded. Because of the constantly changing nature of the Internet and the tactics used by hackers, it’s a good idea for businesses to review and update security measures for their Web sites and internal systems on a regular basis.
Businesses should constantly remind their employees and new hires about proper handling of their customers’ personal information. For example:
Restaurant waitstaff should be instructed to keep their eyes on customers’ credit cards and related receipts at all times, and not let these linger on an unattended table or bar.
Employees working for businesses that send this type of data electronically to colleagues should be reminded to double-check recipient’s address before clicking “send” on an email, to make sure they are not unintentionally sending sensitive information to the wrong people.
The threat of identity theft should be particularly impressed upon employees who travel with laptops, ensuring that the computers and disks are secure at all times, and any theft or other suspected breach should be immediately reported to management.
All businesses handling hard copies with any information that could be useful to an identity thief should keep those discarded documents in a safe place and shred them before throwing them into a publically accessible dumpster.
If in doubt, shred it. It’s going into the trash anyway.
It is also a good idea to send periodic reminders to employees, such as through email, newsletters, and clearly displayed signs. For example, some businesses that faced legal action from the Attorney General for improper document disposal agreed to send protocol reminders to all employees by periodically including corresponding notes in their paychecks.
The scenarios through which consumers’ information could end up in the wrong hands are clearly limitless, and the above are simply some examples and common-sense suggestions. Each business should develop procedures according to their size and type of information handled, and update those protocols the moment they realize new ways in which their customer’s sensitive data could fall into the wrong hands. Employees should therefore be encouraged to immediately alert management whenever they come across a situation that could put this information at risk.
The Office of the Attorney General encourages all Texans, individual consumers and businesses alike, to contact us if they discover a business that is not taking proper care of their clients’ information by calling us at 1-800-252-8011.
May 27, 2008
On-Site Shredding in the Press, Shredder
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I see it and hear it every day, my shredder just went up in smoke! Many of the so-called industrial shredders don’t quite live up to their advertising. Shredders that cost upwards of five thousand dollars should have bullet proof warranties. But as many of our clients tell us, that is not the case. There are many advantages to using an on-site shredder. The first and foremost is no shredder equipment to maintain! Never again will you have to place a call to fix your shredder. Never again will you have to call a Tech out to clear a shredder jam. Nor will you have to worry about your shredder failing during a big purge. Shredders are designed to break.
Another advantage to using an on-site shredder is employee time. Using employee time efficiently is a must in today’s highly competitive society. Using a salaried employee as a shredder is probably not the most effective way that employee could be using their time. On the flip side you could stock pile your documents and have a low level employee be used as a shredder. Using a low level employee as a shredder probably isn’t the best idea either. Using this person as a shredder allows them access to the company’s most sensitive material. All you have to do is pick up a paper to read about a corporation facing criminal and civil lawsuits because some manager assigned the shredder duties to a low level employee who found it easier to deposit the records in the back dumpster.
Still another advantage of using an on-site shredder is security. A good shredder will destroy your documents on-site and issue you a certificate of destruction. Most metropolitan areas will have a few shredders to choose from. Choosing the right shredder is crucial. Choosing the wrong shredder could result in disaster. Always check to make sure the shredder belongs to a governing body like the National Association of Information Destruction. Also make sure the shredder is accountable within the community by being part of the Better Business Bureau. Make sure the Shredder is involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and make sure you ask the shredder for a list of references. If you follow these few guidelines, you will find a good shredder.
