Have you ever thought about how much data is left on your old hard drive when you sell or dispose of it? Did you know that as many as 90% of used devices still have personal or company data on them? At a time when cybercrime is rampant and the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG) is being strictly enforced, it's crucial to make sure your old devices are processed securely. In this blog article, we discuss why this is important, what the AVG entails and how you can ensure that your data is securely destroyed.
What is AVG?
The AVG, or General Data Protection Regulation, is a European regulation that went into effect in May 2018. This legislation is designed to ensure the privacy and protection of personal data of EU citizens. Companies and organizations that process personal data are required to take appropriate measures to protect it from loss, theft or unauthorized access. Failure to comply with the AVG can result in significant fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of the company's annual global turnover, whichever is higher.
Data breaches and their consequences
A data breach can have serious consequences for both individuals and businesses/organizations. Sensitive information such as names, addresses, financial data and passwords can fall into the wrong hands and be used for identity theft, fraud or other criminal activities. For businesses, a data breach can lead to loss of customer confidence, damage to reputation and significant financial losses due to fines and legal fees. Preventing data breaches is therefore an essential task for any organization.
Malware: an invisible threat
One of the ways data can be stolen is through malware. These are malicious software programs designed to access computer systems undetected and steal data. Old devices that have not been properly stripped of data can be a source of malware. When these devices are resold or discarded without adequate data destruction, criminals can easily access and misuse the remaining data.
The importance of data deletion and data destruction
Before putting your old devices up for sale, it is crucial to ensure that all data is completely and irretrievably deleted. This process, also known as data destruction, involves erasing all data from your devices so that it cannot be recovered. Hard drive destruction is one of the most effective methods of achieving this.
You can have a hard drive physically destroyed using a shredder or have the data on it permanently erased. This way, it cannot be recovered by someone with bad intentions.
Hard drive emptying AVG
Simply emptying a hard drive by deleting or formatting files is not enough to meet AVG requirements. Even after files are deleted, they can often be recovered using specialized software. To comply with the AVG, you must ensure that the data is completely and irretrievably deleted. This can be accomplished by using specialized data destruction software or by physically destroying the hard drive.
Secure destruction of data carriers
When it's time to sell or dispose of old equipment, you need to make sure that all data carriers are securely destroyed. This applies not only to hard drives, but also to USB sticks, CDs, DVDs and other storage media. By ensuring that all of these media are securely destroyed, you not only protect yourself and your business, but also your customers and their data.
What should you do before putting your old equipment up for sale?
Before putting your old equipment up for sale, it is important to take the following steps:
Backing up data
Be sure to back up all important data.
Check for malware
Perform a thorough scan to make sure the device is free of malware before you sell it.
Factory settings
Reset the device to factory settings to ensure that all personal settings and data are erased.
Data destruction or data disposal by a professional company
To truly ensure that all data is permanently deleted and cannot be retrieved by individuals with bad intentions, you should have data destruction performed. Just formatting and restoring to factory settings is not enough.
Preventing data breaches
Preventing data breaches starts with the safe disposal of data from old devices. By following proper procedures for data destruction and hard drive destruction, you can ensure that your data does not fall into the wrong hands. It is also important to regularly review and update your security measures to comply with the latest security standards and AVG requirements.
Data Destruction by W3E
In a world where cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, it is essential to take the right measures to protect your data. By being aware of the risks and knowing how to securely delete data, you can avoid data breaches and large fines under the AVG. W3E is ready to help you every step of the way, from hard drive destruction to complete data destruction, so you can confidently sell or recycle your old equipment. Protect yourself, your business or organization and your customers by taking action today. Feel free to contact with us for more information.
English 
Dutch