Digital copiers pose security threat

Copier hard drives should be erased to minimize security risks.
Copier hard drives should be erased to minimize security risks.

Although stolen laptops and computer-savvy hackers are frequently the focus of school security discussions, information retained when sensitive documents are photocopied poses another very real, although often overlooked, security threat for schools and colleges—and for the employees and students whose personal information could be at risk.

The hard drives in digital copiers record all images that are copied using the machine. While copier security risks have been known for a number of years, CBS News shined its spotlight on the danger with an April 19 news report. eSchool News first reported on the issue in 2007 (see “Latest data security risk for schools: Copiers“).

The CBS investigative team purchased three previously-owned copiers and accessed sensitive information on all three hard drives, including one that contained scanned records from a public high school.…Read More

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