Your copier’s hard drive could be a digital time bomb unless properly secured.
Your copier is hiding something from you – its hard drive.
These hidden hard drives in copiers prevalent since 2002 store images of every document that’s ever been copied, scanned, or emailed. This data remains stored on the hard drive until the drive becomes full then the old data is overwritten, but there’s always the potential for sensitive information to be stored on your copier’s hard drive. Though that copier in the corner of the office may appear innocent, it is ripe for hacking – and they are often overlooked.
Most copiers are connected to an office network and businesses many times may fail to have a strong password in place in order to receive access. A weak password or a lack of password could easily result in providing hackers the ability (through the Internet) to gain access to the network and all those document images stored on the copier’s hard drive.
Not only are copiers security threats while being used at the office, but they’re also a potential threat later when they’re sold to a third party. According to a CBS News segment, these copiers are a “digital time bomb” and a treasure trove for identity thieves – holding images with information such as social security numbers, income tax forms, bank records, and birth certificates. Check out the segment HERE and see what is discovered in an undercover investigation in a warehouse in New Jersey.
You’re aware of the potential threats – now what do you do?
Unless businesses include their digital copiers in what they may think to be a bulletproof security plan, that system is flawed and a prime target for hackers.