How to Destroy Sensitive Documents
Updated:2008/04/28
How to Destroy Sensitive Documents
Every month you receive some kind of document with sensitive
information on it. This could be a bank statement, credit card
statement, pay stub, or a receipt. Throwing these things in the
trash is not enough to keep them safe from prying eyes. Your
sensitive information must be irreversibly destroyed.
Steps
- Determine if the document really needs to be destroyed and if
it will be needed again.
- Determine what exactly is private information that you wouldn't
want to be seen. More than likely you want to keep the document for
your records, so it isn't always necessary to destroy the entire
thing.
- Using a simple hole punch, cut out the sensitive areas into
pieces of confetti. Half-moon shapes are best. If the confetti is
all circles you didn't use enough punches.
- If any information you wish to destroy takes up a large area
(requiring a lot of hole punches) or is not easily accessible with
the hole punch, cut out the area using an Exacto Knife. Leave a
little extra blank area on at least one side.
- Once the information is cut out simply burn away the offending
piece of paper.
- Burning the paper with other pieces of scrap paper mixed in
will mean that if by accident a part is not burnt the remains of
the scrap paper mixed in will help confuse anyone who tries to read
it.
- Find somewhere with a minimal amount of flammable material and
little or no wind.
- Hold the pieces with a pair of pliers or some other tool so you
don't have to hold it with your bare hands. This is also important
since placing burning paper in a tray or pan doesn't provide proper
airflow and most likely won't completely burn. Hold it by the extra
blank area, because whatever part is pinched won't get burned.
- Once it is finished burning drop it in water (which will ensure
it doesn't catch anything else on fire) or blow on it (assuming you
don't mind bits of ash everywhere).
Tips
-
Not such high security.
Traditional shredders (that cut paper into strips) won't keep
someone from putting it back together.
- If you frequently destroy sensitive documents, consider
investing in a cross-cut shredder. They're more expensive, but they
will save you time.
- Though time consuming, an eraser will rub off ink, usually by
rubbing off the paper.
- When burning, paper ventilation is important, not only to avoid
smoke inhalation but to ensure a full and proper burn.
- Most offices have paper shredders or record destruction
services. Check with your office manager and see if you can bring
in your own documents for destruction.
- As far as burning the pieces of paper, try using a cast-iron
bathtub. Make sure that there is nothing in the bottom, such as
plastic foot grips. This way, if it does somehow manage to get out
of control, you have the tub with a ready supply of water.
Warnings
- If using an Exacto Knife, be aware that the surface below the
paper will be scratched. Not to mention Exacto Knifes are extremely
sharp.
- As always, be careful when using fire.