Web Wise: Disposing of that Old Computer

We are all aware of the environmental impact made by disposing of outdated computers and accessories, but companies must also be conscious of their responsibilities in regard to valuable customer and employee information on the computer drives.

In a recent white paper published by Dell Computers, Eric Seifert, business development manager with Dell Asset Recovery Services, says, “I advise customers to put the same security diligence into their recycling decisions that they do for network security; think about how much time and money you invest in firewalls, VPNs, anti-virus, even password management. If you don’t rely on free network security software, you shouldn’t rely on free recycling.”

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) requires that any organization that uses consumer reports – such as credit reports, employment background checks or insurance claims – must protect and properly dispose of data to protect against “unauthorized access to, or use of, the information.”

So what do you do with that old equipment? First, before discarding, recycling or donating computers, all personal information must be erased from the hard drive. Simply deleting files or emptying your Trash folder still allows the files to be easily accessed through commercially available recovery software.

To clean a hard drive, use commercial erasure software, which overwrites all the data on the drive. This type of software can be found at most office supply and computer retailers. An alternative to erasing the hard drive is to physically remove and destroy it so it cannot be used again.

Another area that is often overlooked are electronic files that do not reside on a computer, but on an external storage tool, such as an external hard drive, CD or DVD, Flash drive or MP3 player. Again, information can’t be simply deleted; it must be erased. If you can’t erase the disk or drive, as in the case of a CD, then it must be physically destroyed so no one else can access the data.

For more information on this subject, check out these resources:
• The National Association for Information Destruction: www.naidonline.org
• The Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov
• The Better Business Bureau’s Education Forum: www.bbbonline.org/education

Do you have a question about ASA’s online features? Send it to me at angiek@ASAshop.org. Perhaps your question will appear in a future column!

ASA Web Ways: Get Your AAM

If you are planning on receiving your Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation, you should know that the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) requires students to complete its self-study “Automotive Service Management Course.” The online version of this course is designed to provide students with an interactive management training experience on topics that include sales and marketing, personnel management and financial management. After successfully completing the six modules of this course, students receive 12 credits toward their AAM. To order the course online, visit www.AMIonline.org and click on the “Self-Study Courses” button.