Public awareness of identity theft is at an all-time high, and shredder sales surged by up to 15 per cent in 2005. So should you buy one, and what features should you look for?
There are a number of things you should look out for before parting with your cash. Possibly the most important is the type of cut that the shredder makes. Strip-cut shredders turn pages into long, thin strips. In some cases these can, with patience and sticky tape, be reconstructed. Cross-cut shredders chop the sheets into little pieces, which are virtually impossible to put back together.
Some cross-shredders handle CDs and credit cards, too. The Dahle 20082 is one such model and costs £69 plus VAT. The Olivetti Privacy 6000c is a dedicated CD shredder that will cross-cut CDs, DVDs, credit cards, floppy disks and paper. It costs the same. Both are available from ABT ( www.abt-shredders.co.uk ).
Shredders sometimes come with a security rating, from one to five. Models rated at one are suitable for everyday documents. Confidential data, which these days we take to mean anything, should be shredded with a level three shredder. Top-secret documents can be turned to dust with a level five shredder. Both models mentioned above have a level three rating.
It's best to shred your own documents, rather than employing a company to do it for you. Not only is it cheaper, but you can't be sure how long your paper will be stored before it is destroyed, if at all. We've heard stories of cowboy companies dumping unshredded sensitive documents from multiple clients in a warehouse that was accessible by anyone. This makes an attractive target for thieves.
You're best off putting shredded paper in your bin or recycling box. If it's cross-cut, it can also be used as compost. Only the most dedicated ID thief will attempt the task of re-assembling cross-cut documents, particularly if they are mixed in with kitchen waste.
Owners of domestic furnaces have access to the ultimate document disposal method. The truly paranoid should stir up the ashes before dumping them.
