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Monday, June 5, 2006
Hard drives do a lot for computers. They hold the operating system in which the computer needs to run the programs it stores and holds the data files for those programs to use. Data files, good ol’ data files. Lots of information can be had from such files. Sometimes it’s just where you’ve surfed on the Internet and other times it’s personal things that reveal much about your identity. You know, Social Security numbers, bank account information, and so on. Hard drives can be a wonderful treasure of information and thus can also be very dangerous if not disposed of properly. Henry and Roma Gerbus of Springfield Township found that out the hard way one day when Ed from Chicago gave them a call.
Backing up a little, the Gerbuses took their old computer down to the local Best Buy to drop it off for disposal since they were getting a new one. Best Buy assured them that the hard drive would be rendered “useless” since they’d be drilling holes in it. Well, I’m not sure if purchasing something in fully working order at a the flea market could be termed “useless.”
Seems like Ed (remember, he’s from Chicago, living not even close to the Gerbuses) was able to grab a deal on a used hard drive for just $25. When Ed got home and hooked it up to his computer, he was a bit surprised to find sensitive information of the Gerbuses on the drive. Luckily one of those pieces of personal information was their phone number so Ed, the good man he is, called them up and offered to sell it back to them… or destroy it. Henry Gerbus wasn’t going to try that one again and told Ed he’d pay him for it and a few weeks later, Henry had his Best Buy “destroyed” hard drive back.
Best Buy wasn’t saying what or how this happened but we at SvenOnTech would gather the Geek Squad probably had something to do with it. You know those guys in the bad white shirts, cheap black pants, and even worse black ties? Don’t let the cool New Beetle fool you, people.
Lesson to learn here? Don’t trust your data to anyone. If you have a “professional” (and I only use quotes here due to the earlier reference of the Geek Squad) destroy your data, let them do it in front of you or have them certify it. If they offer to send the destroyed drive back, that would be a good option too. (Remember to copy the serial number down.) Learn from Henry. You don’t want Ed calling ya!
[Via Yahoo! News]