Five Unconventional Items We Often Fail to Shred

As digital revolution progresses, cybercriminals are able to access our critical data and can use it unethically. We all need to exercise more diligence when protecting our personal data, and best practices in order to protect against identity theft are to use reliable professional shredding services. 

It is a daunting task to determine how long to keep documents with sensitive information. Some documents need to be shredded immediately, while others need to be kept for some time or forever. Moreover, there are some uncommon items we tend to forget to shred. Here is the guide with the list of five related things we should be shredding we forget most time.

5 Unconventional items we often fail to shred

1. 1. Junk Mail and offers with QR code

All of us receive unwanted advertisements and offers daily. With no attention paid to this junk, we throw them and throw them away without considering that they contain our critical information. Apart from the name and address written right on top, there is even much more information that can be useful for hackers. 

Moreover, QR code is a new trend. They are although a convenient shortcut that directs us to a particular website, but there is also a danger of these codes leading us to malicious websites. So, of the most important and uncommon item we should consider shredding is a piece of paper with a QR code, as those may contain our critical information along with our name and address.  

2. 2. USB Flash Drives

USB drives and other electronic storage media can be even more prone to identity theft when compared to paper documents. These contain thousands of files and may also have photos and videos. Even when these devices are formatted, a hacker can retrieve data making them more sensitive to data theft. 

Shredding services in the USA are experts who can shred all types of electronic equipment containing data in digital form. It includes USB drives, flash drives, hard drives, old computers and laptops, smartphones, tablets, or other electronic data. According to a recent study, almost 40% of devices resold contained data including passwords, usernames, and even credit card information, further making the job of hackers simpler. 

3. 3. Documents Containing the Information of Your Pet

Pet lovers may accidentally share their personal information with data hackers. Our pets often need medical care, so it’s likely that we will pass on the information through their medical records. For instance, these may have your name and payment information which is critical information for a data hacker. 

Moreover, many people use their pet names as passwords and even for verification questions. It is easy for them to design passwords with their pet names. If they fail to shred the documents that have pet names, they may end up in a possible data breach. Remember to properly shred all these documents with the help of reliable shredding services in the USA. 

4. 4. Utility Bills and other Receipts

Most of us often neglect the point of shredding our utility bills and throwing them in the trash after keeping them for some time. These receipts usually have our name and the last four digits of our credit card number. Thus, we again allow cybercriminals unknowingly to locate a complete card number, name, and address.

Apart from revealing your identity, these receipts also expose your habit of spending, age, gender, and work status, providing the hackers with yet another series of information. These criminals are smart and can use your utility bill as proof of residence or any other feudal purpose. Moreover, your receipts from the store help the hackers establish that since the items purchased are for old people, there may be an elderly couple in the apartment, and simultaneously plan a theft. 

Small pieces of information that are useless for us can work wonders for cybercriminals and can cause more destruction than we imagine. Make it a point to collect all types of receipts and utility bills and shred them from time to time by outsourcing your shredding job through reliable professional shredding services.

5. 5. Medical Bills

Our medical bills have all sorts of critical information including age, address, ailments, and insurance details if we have filed a claim. These are vulnerable documents and must never be thrown into an open bin. A medical record is worth more important for criminals than credit card. They can sell your information like policy numbers, diagnosis codes, and billing information on the black market. Your personal details can be used to create a new identity to help them buy drugs and resell further. 

Conclusion

We all need to be very cautious about the items we often throw in bins. With identity theft rising each day, every piece of information we just throw, needs to be shredded in an adequate manner once and always.