The computer world is in a constant state of renewal. Change is happening as new models offer more power and expanded memory - and developments like the I-Pad bring extended flexibility. We are constantly urged to - upgrade !
It seems that most people give little thought to what happens to that old computer that they discard. It has been a good and faithful servant, and locked away in the hard drive is a wealth of information that can do enormous damage if accessed by the wrong people.
Some discarded computers end up in landfills, where the Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Chromium in their parts can leach into the ground water and poison the soil. Many others are exported overseas - to countries like Ghana and India - where an industry has built-up recovering precious metals for a few dollars profit.
It didn't take long for the crime gangs to sense opportunity, and now there is a thriving market for the hard drives from these old computers - and they are bringing up to $ 200 for the people who strip computers for spare parts. It seems that divesting hard drives of information is relatively easy - and in the wrong hands it can be used for identity theft - or even blackmail.
The hard drive of the average computer contains a wealth of personal information. All the emails you have ever sent - or received. Every bill you have paid. Every banking transaction you have done on the computer. Every bit of information such as bank account number and password that has been tapped in via your keyboard - are recorded on the hard drive.
Most people think that by simply deleting information their computer is made safe. Not so ! We see the truth often enough in TV crime shows. The police always confiscate computers and mine them for information when they investigate a crime - and what they actually do is recover secrets from each unit's hard drive.
That is enough to spoil the day of anyone who has recently dumped his or her old computer and neglected to determine precisely where it might end up. The thought that every key stroke and inward message that ever passed through that machine may be in the hands of a cyber criminal who intends to use it to cause harm and cost you money is alarming.
But - wherever there is a threat - there is opportunity ! Surely the people who service computers and those who run the thousands of computer shops spread across this country should see that the way is open to offer a new service to neutralise that harm.
Surely thinking people would welcome a service where before disposal they take their old computer to an establishment which removes that hard drive - and destroys it by melting it down - right before their eyes ?
It seems strange that as the media constantly remind us of the dangers of bandits raiding hard drives, the industry has not responded with an advertised service to eliminate this problem - and to make a tidy profit from doing so.
This seems more than just an opportunity knocking on the door. It sounds remarkably like necessity beating a drum and demanding to be heard.
But - is the industry listening ?
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