Opsus.com - Paper Shredding Blog

It seems a day does not go by that we aren’t reading an article about how computer hackers have stolen someone’s identity. The focus is usually on on-line identity theft. Protect your passwords, keep your security software up-to-date, don’t open strange emails, etc. These are all great tips. However, many thieves still operate the old fashioned way – by combing through dumpsters.

We may be moving to a paperless society but think about how much or your personal information is still stored on paper – from tax documents to school records to financial information. This does not even take into account what you receive in the mail every day. While you may live your life on-line you still have a significant paper footprint laying around your home or office.

By law, once you have placed anything in the trash it is “public” property. As a matter of fact, The FBI still lists “dumpster diving” as one of the top avenues for identity theft. Simply trashing your old documents can make you a target for identity thieves.

This is why the market for home shredders continues to grow. Generally, you will find one of two types of shredding used in homes and offices - strip shredders and cross-cut shredders. These are both inexpensive options and offer in-home convenience. The question is – are they the most secure way to dispose of your sensitive paper documents?

The answer is no. A strip shredder generally cuts your paper into long strips while the cross-cut turns it into confetti. Unfortunately, savvy thieves- using a publicly available program like The Unshredder can actually reconstruct your shredded documents.

This is a time consuming process and is likely for only the most committed of criminals. Still - it can be done.

At OPSUS we use a rotary grind shredder that tears and rips the paper at irregular angles making it almost impossible to reconstruct a document.

The ancillary benefit of this process is that your former documents are recycled into new paper products. This provides the dual benefit protecting your identity and saving space in your local landfill.

Identity theft is a serious industry that costs businesses an estimated $211 BILLION annually. On a more personal level, on average 10% of Americans are victimized by identity theft each year at an average cost of $5000.

We’re guessing you don’t just have $5000 lying around the house. Or, maybe you do – in the form of un-shredded information.

If you don’t need it – shred it!