Do you remember the last thing you had copied, either for yourself or someone else? 

You probably do.  It could have been someone's driver's license for your client file, a HUD statement, an earnest money check, tax returns for a mortgage broker, or a contract.  How about your insurance card at the doctor's office or your social security card for a job you just accepted?

These are just a small sample of what we copy on a daily basis.  But did you know that the copy machine keeps a digital image of every single thing that it copies??  They're all stored on its hard drive, ready and waiting to be re-viewed by whomever looks for them.

I don't know about you, but to me, that it S-C-A-R-Y. 

My uncle sent me this YouTube video the other day which explains everything clearer that I can.  It's a piece that CBS News did on April 25, 2010.  It is a couple minutes long, but you'll be glad you checked it out.  Or maybe not.

 

*****************************************

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Jim and Maria Hart
Realtors®/ AgentOwned Realty
(843) 364-9845
hart@agentowned.com

 

Copyright © 2010 by Jim and Maria Hart (AgentOwned Realty).

 

 

 
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78 Comments on Looks like copy machines are something else for us to worry about

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUN
17
2010
623,103 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

WOW!  Thanks for all of the comments and the feature :)

It baffles my mind that with all of the advances we've made, that this wasn't something that someone already took care of.  Honestly, there should be some sort of program that is automatically run on each and every copier/fax to delete the images each time the machine is shut off.  And it shouldn't cost anything extra!  That way there would be no issues at hand. 
11:44pm • #60
JUN
18
2010
975,855 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

UH oh. I did not realize this or stop to think it over. This will stay on my mind now!
1:00am • #61
567,395 Points 45 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

This is scarry.  I would have never thought an image was stored and saved on a hard drive. 
1:48am • #62
211,114 Points 1 Featured Post

I had seen this before as well.  I think the real issue is the fact that companies using the copiers refuse to go to the extra expense to guard our privacy. 
3:24am • #63

And people think you're safe if you just stay off the Internet!!!
7:39am • #64
1,406,468 Points 54 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim...I did hear about this a while back.  I need to replace my old copier soon and will be looking for the internal memory.
7:47am • #65

Wow! Nice bunch of comments. Scary, yes! Surprising, no. We pay a lot for these machines and  hopefully, we have control of the information the machine retains. Awareness is a good thing!
7:54am • #66
731,668 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim and Maria, I wasn't aware that copy machines had hard drives in them. Thanks for the update.
8:46am • #67
146,619 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Jim,

Thanks for the heads up. I am reblogging this important information.
8:49am • #68

Wow I had no idea they stored that information. Thank you for the heads up!
8:57am • #69
291,755 Points 2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Gary I was thinking the same thing...

The more I think about it the more I question if anything is ever private anymore...
9:03am • #70

As stated previously, yes networked multi-function printers also have hard drives (soon to be replaced with flash drives. Cheaper and smaller) These devices, being connected to a network, are venerable to either internal or external espionage. Best to have your own local multi-function device, if your office permits, to make certain your data is secure. Otherwise do your printing and photocopying at your home office. And use discretion whenever making copies at a copy center.
10:17am • #71

Just one more reason I really need to stop copying those $100 bills! (Just kidding, Big Brother!)
10:57am • #72
Called Shot Master

This is something ever since 2002 ..... I wonder if it was because of 9-11....

 

Anyhow, it's so important, I going to reblog it to help get the word out....

 

Lori Cofer
8:17pm • #73
JUN
21
2010
327,967 Points 7 Featured Posts

Wow, Jim and Maria, I had no idea.  I only use the copier at my office and at home, but from now on I'll be more careful about what I copy at the office.
9:22pm • #74
JUL
01
2010
1,057,163 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Wait a minute. You get a Featured Post and then you bail on us? LOL. Hope all is well.
8:32pm • #75
AUG
12
2010

WOW I did not know this I am shocked thanks for the post...

I hope you have an amazing weekend school is about to start close to end of 2010 believe that ! Dallas Apartment Locator, Lynn911.com, Dallas Aparment Finder, Dallas Apartments for Rent, Dallas Apartment Rentals

2:37pm • #76
AUG
19
2010
519,192 Points Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I really did not know that this was a situation is so serious.
1:31am • #77
180,712 Points 2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jim and Maria, Great featured blog to get this information out to the 60% of us that did not know copiers had internal hard drives storing all our valuable information.
1:55am • #78
312,831 Points Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It's amazing.  It seems absolutely nothing is private and personal anymore!  Even our cars tell "tales" with their recorders!

I went to an appointment at my dentists last week and was greeted with a Webcam to take a picture!  Allegedly for the Hippa Law.  Seems all medical folks now need/must have photo id's.

It's a strange and alien world we are living in.

Sue of Robin and Sue
2:02am • #79

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