Information is power – and in this information technology age, most people store important and even confidential information in their computers, laptops and other techie gadgets. Due to rapid development in technology that causes the fast rate of obsolescence of these techie gadgets, oftentimes it is more cost effective to replace them when they fail rather than to have them repaired or have a part replaced.
The question is, “how do you dispose those old techie gadgets that had become antiquated or obsolete?” Is your answer:
- (A) throw them,
- (B) donate them, or
- (C) keep them until the time that you decide that you want to do choice A or choice B.
Whatever you decide, it is important that you remove any important and private information from those computers and laptops before you dispose them. There had been reported cases of confidential information, videos, pictures and other files that went public just because those who donated them did not thoroughly delete those files and cleaned the computers before donating them.
Some companies and organizations who dispose or throw old computers should shred hard drive or hire a company that specializes in this to prevent sensitive information (especially business secrets) from going public.
How do you dispose of your old techie gadgets? Do you shred your hard drives as well?
