PRINTER PRIVACY ALERT

Did you know that many copy machines in offices and commercial shops keep digital files of the material they copy, print, scan, or fax on an internal hard drive? That information often remains on the machine when it's sold or discarded and could easily be retrieved by identity thieves.

A CBS New crew searched in a warehouse of used copiers recently. It unearthed data including prescriptions and a cancer diagnosis from a copier that was once at a health insurance company and pay stubs with names, addresses, and Social Security numbers from a construction company's copier.

Some commercial copiers completely and automatically erase the last file scanned, but they cost more than others. Until safer machines are more widespread:

- Ask the staff at a copy shop whether its machines have security safeguards.
- Just copy -- there is greater risk when copiers are used for printing, scanning, or faxing than when used solely for copying.
- Use a home printer -- copiers built in to those printers hold data in a buffer and only long enough to print it once.
Sources: CBS News, Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection, Consumer Reports



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