5.6 safe disposal of data and computer equipment

Question 1

what is overwriting data?

Answer 1

a hard disk should be overwritten at least three times to ensure that the data cannot be recovered. this method allows you to reuse your hard drive.

Question 2

what is an electromagnetic wipe?

Answer 2

this is where data is erased magnetically from magnetic storage media such as hard drives and backup tapes. the storage media is usually unusable after the data is destroyed.

Question 3

what is physical destruction?

Answer 3

storage media is totally destroyed, for example crushed using hydraulic apparatus.

Question 4

what is the environmental act (1995)?

Answer 4

all computer equipment is classed as waste

your legal duty of care extends to when equipment is reused, recycled or disposed of and it must go to a licensed disposal site.

Question 5

what is the environmental protection act (1990)?

Answer 5

waste items must be assigned to be registered carriers, properly stored and disposed of at appropriately licensed facilities.

if they do not follow the act they can be held accountable, facing fines, and imprisonment.

Question 6

what are the hazardous waste regulations (2005)?

Answer 6

they are required to notify their premises to the environment agency and register as a waste producer. a waste transfer note for hazardous waste should be issued by the licensed collecting agent at the time of collection.

Question 7

what is the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive (WEEE)?

Answer 7

sets criteria for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment

Question 8

what are the landfill regulations (2002)?

Answer 8

the standards set in relation to wastes that can go to landfill. the standards are called waste acceptance criteria (WAC) and include hazardous waste.

Question 9

what is general data protection regulation (GDPR)?

Answer 9

consumers can ask businesses and organisations for access to their personal data and for it to be wiped, giving them more control over how their information is used.

individuals can demand that they are profiled by a person as opposed to a machine-based algorithm

it is now a criminal offence if an organisation tampers with data that has been requested by an individual.