Most people take precautions to wipe data off their computers' hard drives before getting rid of them, but take note: Most copy machines store a digital image of every document scanned or copied.


As explained by a CBS investigation (see video above) and highlighted by tech blog Digital Inspiration, the built-in hard drive of most photocopiers contains and stores this information to improve overall performance. The catch is that it allows anyone access to anything ever scanned if they know how to, which turns into a huge security risk if you decide to get rid of the machine without wiping out the hard drive:

If a fraudster manages to pull out the disk from the photocopier, it can be a real "goldmine," as he'll probably find everything there from employee credit card numbers to resumes to faxes and much more.


Fortunately, most manufacturers provide exact instructions on how to clear this data, so check your machine's manual before you get rid of it.

Photocopy Machines in the Office may have your Personal Data [Digital Inspiration]