Most homes and offices have a paper shredder for destroying important documents when it comes time to dispose of them. However, not all paper shredders can handle shredding the other media that store your personal information. Learn about the non-paper media you should also be shredding and where to start.
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IDs & Badges
When you work in an industry that utilizes ID badges and cards for entry to your building and other security measures, keeping track of these items is incredibly important. You also need to know the proper way to dispose of items like these when they become outdated or your business or employees no longer need them. You should always shred or degauss key cards to make sure that they are unusable when you dispose of them. Simply cutting them up with a pair of scissors isn’t always enough.
Debit & Credit Cards
Just like ID cards, you shouldn’t leave debit and credit card disposal to a pair of scissors. Modern payment cards contain magnetic and electromagnetic components that allow for ease of payment but can be difficult to destroy fully. When your credit and debit cards expire and you swap them for new ones, make sure to shred or degauss them carefully to destroy the card number and magnetic internal parts.
Floppy Disks, Hard Drives, & More
Computer and digital storage accessories can also be quite harmful when they fall into the wrong hands. Even information like your or your business’s name and address can be sensitive information, which is commonly stored on such devices. Some common examples of computer and data storage devices include floppy disks, CDs, hard drives, thumb drives, and more. What you should know about multi-media shredders is that they’re useful for both home and in-office use for destroying data storage devices like these.
Now that you’re more familiar with the non-paper media you should also be shredding at home or in the office, you’ll be able to better protect your information. Keep track of these items around your home or business, and make sure to erase them thoroughly with a shredder or degausser.
