Cross Cut
Paper Shredder
Almost everyone today knows that a paper shredder
is a necessary machine to have in your
house.
Almost everyone today knows that a paper shredder is a
necessary machine to have in your house. Every day we're
receiving and discarding papers with important information.
You get bank account and credit card statements, offers for
credit cards, insurance forms, and many other things. You know
that if you just throw these away or even rip them in thirds
some unscrupulous person can come along who wants to
investigate your trash and then your information is out there
in the world for just anyone to look at. It's even possible
that they'll steal your identity.
Now you may think it's just fine to go to your local office
supply store and pick up any kind of shredder they're selling.
But have you given any thought to whether you're purchasing a
strip shredder or a cross cut shredder?
My guess is that many people don't even recognize that there
are two kinds, much less know which is better for them. A strip
shredder tears your papers into strips, much as a pasta maker
takes dough and turns it into thin spaghetti.
These strands certainly look as if no one could ever put
them back together. You do this shredding, put your trash out
on the street and assume that no one could ever see your
information. But that's not true.
There is software sold today that can help thieves retrieve
your strips of paper and piece them together. This is hard to
believe but it is possible. Cross cut shredders, on the other
hand, take that extra step of cutting your paper one way and
then the other.
There's no way in this case that someone could get into your
garbage and find out things about you or steal your identity.
So it's worthwhile to look for one of these types of shredders
when you shop. Personally you know you need a good paper
shredder.
You don't want your account numbers and other information to
get into the wrong hands. Identity theft affects so many
individuals each year and causes them exhorbitant amounts of
time and money to rectify.
But if you're doing business, you should know that there are
legalities involved. Choice is taken away, because you're
responsible for certain things. FACTA says that you can't just
take an employee's records and dump them in the trash.
You may be cleaning out files because someone has left the
company and figure that no one will be seeing them ever again.
But it's not enough to just throw them out or rip them up.
There are facts about his or her earnings, insurance,
performance, health, and other things that you are not allowed
to put out their for third parties to see.
If you do that, even by neglect, you could be prosecuted,
and that's as true for small businesses as it is for large
ones. Even when money and accounts are not at stake, whether in
your personal or professional life, remember that there are
things about yourself that you don't want others to know.
Your diagnoses of mental and physical illness are no one
else's business but yours, and you'd be shame-faced if anyone
outside your immediate circle got hold of your health
records.
Maybe you're communicating with people you don't want to
broadcast about for various reasons. It's hard to realize how
much of your life you want to stay private until a slip is made
and you lose that privacy.
So don't rely on just ripping things up and throwing them
away. And don't rely on just a strip paper shredder. Shop
around and find a good cross cut paper shredder.
When you file your papers into this machine after sorting
your mail in the evening, you'll sleep tight that night because
you'll know that your information cannot get into anybody's
hands.
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