Recycled PCs expose confidential data

A second-hand PC sold by merchant bank Morgan Grenfell contained confidential documents about the company's clients, according to an investigation by Channel 4 News and the Daily Express.

The 'obsolete' Compaq computer revealed sensitive information about the private investment portfolios of pop star Sir Paul McCartney, the Cancer Research Campaign and the International Association of Odd Fellows.

According to IT recycler, Technical Asset Management (TAM), the incident is typical of the attitude of many companies towards data-wiping procedures.

Jon Godfrey, co-founder of TAM, argued that the problem lies with the UK companies that do not have coherent disposal policies and procedures for their old and obsolete computer equipment. He warned that these organisations leave themselves seriously exposed to data protection issues as well as business and commercial risks.