How can the incorrect disposal of devices turn into a security incident?

When we talk about digital security, it is common for the focus to be only on virtual threats such as scams, malware, and phishing attacks.

However, the improper disposal of corporate devices is a growing problem that affects both the environment and organizations, after all, data protection goes beyond the online environment.

Physical devices such as notebooks, cell phones, USB sticks, and hard drives store sensitive information and, if disposed of improperly, can become a gateway to leaks, fraud, and other security incidents.

Be aware that deleting files does not guarantee that the data is actually erased, and criminals can easily recover this information with simple tools.

This neglect of the physical disposal of devices and media poses a real risk to businesses of all sizes.

This is because old equipment, without proper care, can contain everything from corporate credentials to contracts and strategic information. Therefore, safe disposal must be part of information security policies.

What is the importance of disposing of devices?

The incorrect disposal of devices occurs when equipment that stores data such as hard drives, notebooks, USB sticks, cell phones, routers and even printers, are discarded without the information contained in them being properly eliminated.

Often, when changing devices or ending the use of corporate equipment, the concern is limited to physical disposal.

Ignoring that most of these devices still carry sensitive data, even after a simple deletion of files.

This equipment often stores:

• Access credentials;

• Internal documents;

• Customer data;

• Browsing histories;

• Network settings.

  
  

Corporate cell phones, for example, can contain direct access to emails and internal systems, printers and multifunction printers store temporary copies of scanned documents.

Routers, on the other hand, store network information that can be exploited by cybercriminals, the risk lies in underestimating the potential of these media as a source of information.

What makes the disposal incorrect is the absence of secure procedures to delete the data before the device leaves the organization's control.

This includes everything from the lack of secure formatting to the non-use of specialized tools to permanently erase the data contained in the equipment.

In more critical cases, the equipment is simply thrown away or donated without any cleaning steps, which facilitates the recovery of information with free software found on the internet.

In addition to representing a serious flaw in the information security policy, this type of negligence can lead to legal consequences, especially in the face of legislation such as the LGPD.

Therefore, it is essential that organizations adopt standardized and secure practices for the disposal of any device that has stored corporate data.

What are the risks of incorrect disposal of devices?

The improper disposal of devices goes far beyond an environmental or organizational issue, it represents a real risk to information security.

This is because we live in a scenario where data is a valuable and strategic asset for any organization and allowing equipment to be disposed of without proper care can open doors to leaks and fraud.

These loopholes can be exploited by cybercriminals, competitors, or even ordinary people with basic technical knowledge.

Therefore, understanding these risks and adopting safe practices in the disposal of devices is essential to protect the integrity of information.

Unauthorized access to sensitive data

When devices are disposed of without proper care, anyone who has physical access to them can exploit the stored information, this includes sensitive company data such as:

• Internal documents;

• Financial spreadsheets;

• Market strategies;

• Customer data;

• Access to systems.

  
  

In many cases, this data is not protected by encryption and can be viewed easily. This type of exposure exposes the organization to the risk of strategic information leakage and privacy violations.

In addition to the reputational impact, unauthorized access to this data can lead to fraud, extortion, or misuse of the information in unfair competition.

It is important to remember that, when discarding a device, the responsibility for the information contained in it remains with the company.

Once out of corporate control, it becomes much more difficult to track where data has ended up and what damage it can cause.

Therefore, care with disposal is not only technical, but also a matter of legal and ethical responsibility.

Information recovery even after apparent deletion

Many people believe that deleting files or formatting a disk is enough to erase all the information.

However, this is nothing more than a false sense of security. Conventional deletion only removes the data from immediate view, but does not actually remove it from the device.

With simple and easily accessible tools, it is possible to recover a large part of these files, including emails, documents and images.

This risk is especially concerning when disposal occurs without any specialized policy or tool for secure data wiping, such as the use of "data wiping" software or certified physical destruction.

With this, attackers or even curious people with basic knowledge can exploit this flaw and gain access to valuable data for corporate espionage or targeted attacks.

Repurposing parts containing confidential information

Even when the device itself is not reused in its entirety, parts of it can be reused by third parties and this also poses a risk.

This is because components such as HDs, SSDs and even memory chips can contain fragments of sensitive data, so organizations that dispose of equipment in a fragmented way, without due care for the information.

They end up allowing this data to be transported outside the corporate environment, often without any traceability.

In addition, this reuse is common in parallel markets for the resale of equipment and parts. A hard drive that has been discarded without proper cleaning can be installed on another computer, exposing company information.

This broadens the risk surface and shows how the information lifecycle needs to be considered until final disposal.

Best practices for the safe disposal of devices

Ensuring the safe disposal of devices that store sensitive data is an essential step in the information security policy.

To this end, it is essential that organizations establish clear internal disposal policies , which define responsibilities, deadlines, and procedures for the elimination of obsolete equipment.

These guidelines must be known by all employees and aligned with the IT, security, and compliance sectors, in order to ensure that no device leaves the institution without going through an adequate data processing process.

Among the most effective technical measures is the use of secure data wiping tools, known as data wiping.

These software are designed to completely overwrite the information stored on the device, making its recovery virtually impossible.

Unlike simple deletion or formatting, wiping ensures that sensitive data such as passwords, financial records, and corporate documents are permanently eliminated.

This practice should be adopted as a standard, especially before any equipment is transferred, donated, or recycled.

In situations where devices will not be reused, certified physical destruction becomes the safest form of disposal.

This involves processes such as shredding, degaussing, or melting the components that store data, ensuring that no information can be recovered.

It is important that this destruction is recorded and, when possible, accompanied by technical reports that prove compliance with security and data protection standards, such as the LGPD.

What is the role of employee awareness?

Employee awareness is one of the most important pillars to ensure the safe disposal of devices and the protection of corporate information.

It is not enough to have internal policies and adequate tools if the people who deal directly with the equipment are not aware of the risks involved, because many incidents start with small oversights such as:

• Throw away an old USB stick;

• Donate a notebook without wiping the data;

• Discard a corporate phone without resetting it.

  
  

When employees understand the seriousness of these actions, they start to act with more responsibility and attention.

In this scenario, IT and Information Security teams have an essential role, which is not only to create safe disposal processes, but also to guide employees on how to follow them correctly.

To strengthen this movement, it is essential to invest in training and campaigns that include the topic of physical disposal as part of the safety culture.

How can PhishX help with device disposal?

PhishX understands that information security goes beyond the digital environment and physical risks, such as improper disposal of devices, should also be part of data protection strategies.

Therefore, it offers complete solutions through educational campaigns, which help to make employees aware of the importance of safe disposal.

These campaigns can be customized according to the reality of each organization, covering everything from the most common risks to practical examples of how to act correctly on a daily basis.

Another differential of PhishX is in the offer of content in microlearning format, specifically focused on security topics such as safe physical disposal and other digital security topics.

Because they are objective and quick to assimilate, these contents help employees to absorb knowledge in a practical way, without overloading their routine. The result is continuous and more effective learning.

All of this is part of PhishX's ongoing awareness program, which treats security as a journey rather than a one-off action.

The safe disposal of devices is just one of the topics that can and should be present in this permanent learning cycle. With PhishX's strategic approach, your organization is able to form a more mature security culture. Contact our experts and learn more!

Improper disposal of devices can turn into a security incident