Get Rid of your Old PC, but Protect your Privacy and Safe the Environment

And how to dispose of your old PC without leaving your identity at risk
October 2008
by Kai Davis

So, you’ve decided to buy a shiny new computer. Are you excited for its increased power, performance and speed? Now the question becomes - what are you going to do with the old PC that served you well?
Here are some guidelines to follow:

Make sure your data is gone!

It is not enough to just delete your files. In 2007, a cyber-security expert picked up a $500 computer at a swap meet. By using simple software, he was able to extract from the computer, which had been used by a mortgage company, the credit reports of about 300 people. As well, he was also able to access the user names and passwords the company’s employees had used to access credit bureaus.

In a 2005 report, Inside Edition purchased 25 computers from thrift stores in various eastern U.S. cities. The television program crew also acquired four computers for free at a town dump. The computers were turned over to an expert who found that none of them had been cleaned of information. The machines included financial and personal information that could have been used to commit identity theft and fraud.

Before you dispose of your computer, take the time to make sure all of the data is permanently deleted. The easiest and most efficient way of doing this is to use privacy controls software. Quality privacy controls software includes secure deletion features which ensure your files and confidential information are gone forever. It is useful to look for software that not only deletes and overwrites files, but also thoroughly removes Internet browsing history, including tracking cookies, user names, passwords, and banking information.

Don’t contribute to e-waste.

Now that your identity is protected, what exactly do you do with your old PC? The biggest thing to keep in mind is not to add to the escalating problem of e-waste. Computers and other high-tech devices contain hundreds of toxic chemicals. These toxins, including lead, mercury, cadmium and polyvinyl chloride, can cause cancer or respiratory and reproductive problems. If computers are disposed of in regular landfills, these toxins can be released into the water, air and soil.

According to Greenpeace, 50 to 80 per cent of discarded computers are sent overseas. They are reportedly dumped without concern for the environmental impact or put into acid baths to extract precious metals such as copper and gold. These machines could poison scavengers or recyclers in the third world countries they are disposed in.

To stop your old computer from adding to the e-waste problem, please consider:

Donating it to charity. Some local charities would be very grateful for the donation of a working computer. For example, the National Cristina Foundation (http://www.cristina.org/) provides computers to people with disabilities, students at risk and the disadvantaged. The organization has affiliates in all 50 states in America. The Share the Technology website (www.sharetechnology.org) tries to help find homes for old computers by listing organizations accepting donations.

Trade it in. Various companies, including Hewlett-Packard, offer discounts if you trade in your old computer. They typically require that you buy a new machine from the same company that made your old one, but this is an economical and environmentally conscious option for many.
Recycle it. Other computer manufacturers will recycle your old computer for you. For example, Dell recycles its own products for free. Plus,, if you buy a new Dell, they will recycle your old computer, of any manufacture, for no charge.

If these are not the right options for you, you can try to find an independent recycler who will take care of it properly. Some recyclers do charge a fee. E-cycling Central (http://www.eiae.org/) lists participating recyclers in the United States.

Disposing of your old computer can take some extra effort and work. However, the knowledge that your personal information is safe and that you are not harming the environment is worth it.