The security benefit of protecting one’s personal information from intrusion is both a professional and individual exercise. This would involve digital data removal from platforms you feel would compromise your security.
A search of your first and last name will provide a start to the digital footprint on the internet. It is possible to find a reliable means to ensure secure data deletion, whether it’s from online platforms or from old devices you would like to dispose of.
Options are made available that would ensure the secure data erasure permanently from devices, servers or online platforms, to those providing complete data destruction.
Understanding the different types of digital data
Different types of digital data require different approaches to storage, use and disposal consideration. Therefore it is important to also understand the levels of privacy each digital data may require for optimal digital privacy.
The data user or the primary source of the data will define the importance and level at which it will need to be protected. An individual will protect data related to their personal information, and the employee with protect the confidentiality of their work while the company protects the IP of their businesses.
Cybercriminals are always a threat to data, so protecting it during and after the life of your device is important. Making use of services dedicated to safe data disposal is worth consideration.
A hard drive data storage destruction service would ensure all data is collected before initial device destruction. File shredding software and disk wiping tools are other sure ways to guarantee that there are no data breaches post-device life.
Regularly removing your web-based digital data
In today’s digital world, it is essential to regularly clean up your online presence. By removing your online data, you can ensure that it does not get into the wrong hands and be misused. Additionally, this also helps you stay organized and keep track of what information is out there about you. This way, you can make sure that only accurate information about yourself remains accessible to others.
Removing your online digital data is an important step in protecting your privacy and security. By taking the time to clean up your online presence, you can reduce the risk of identity theft, cybercrime, and other malicious activities. Additionally, regularly removing your online digital data can help you keep track of what information you have shared with third parties and help you make sure that it is not being misused.
The dangers of not removing your digital data properly
There are security risks associated with improper digital data removal, which may have resounding consequences whether as a company or an individual.
Often, old devices still hold traces of our activities on their hard drives. Pressing the delete key does not necessarily mean this information is no longer accessible within the device. This just means you have made the path to the file not accessible – a privacy concern related to old files remaining on a device.
The only possible solution is to perform a clean wipe or shredding of all digital data from the hard drive before having them disposed of. Unfortunately, unless you are an IT expert, digital data is not easily deleted. There is software made available for download that enables a clean deletion of files.
This process will delete files in backup storage that you would previously not have known. Should there be information you wish to delete, make sure you take steps so that nobody else can gain access to it as well.
Benefits of investing in professional digital data removal services
Having a managed assets disposition of data is essential security consideration for data management. If you want to resell or safely dispose of your device, sourcing the services of a certified data erasure company is a good investment. The service will be able to wipe out, overwriting the system of all the data in your device without fear of any residual remains.
Some companies will provide a data deletion verification certificate. To obtain the certification, the company would have performed a complete data cleansing – making it impossible for anyone to ever have access to your information. All of which can be performed in a compliant manner without the infringement of any regulations or laws.
Finding a secure disposal service provider is another option as these services can ensure that your device has been cleared of any data and disposed of or recycled environmentally off.
General Data Protection Regulation
Even though we try and protect our digital information from prying eyes, what about the people to whom we give our information? The GDPR is a law that aims at protecting individual data, collected from citizens within its borders, and used anywhere in the world.
There are different variations of the GDRP around the world, but their goals and aspirations are the same. Each similar regulation body seeks to regulate how personal information is collected, stored and used. These come with compliance standards set by the regulator which need to be adherence. They also seek to ensure transparency as to how the information is being used once it has been collected.
One clause of regulation of the GDRP is the individual choice to exercise the right to be forgotten. This provides the user or the data subject to have their personal information erased from the internet in all spheres. Even though the user opted to allow the information to be used, their decision to change is well within their rights to exercise.
Conclusion
Either than having hackers collect and use your personal information for nefarious reasons, a digital footprint may not always be positive. However, it is important to note that your electronic track doesn’t always have to be negative; it can also be a useful tool to help you manage your online presence and protect your privacy.
In a digital age where everyone seeks to remain relevant, the level of relevance is a consideration which is based on individual discretion. Thus it’s important to remember to delete your cache regularly and ensure you delete information on all devices accordingly before disposal.
