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

By
Real Estate Agent with Brand Name Real Estate

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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We proudly serve and sell real estate in and around all of Charleston, SC.  If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, North Charleston, Hanahan, Summerville, Goose Creek or other surrounding areas, and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact us at your earliest convenience.

 

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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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Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

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. 

Jun 17, 2010 04:44 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

UH oh. I did not realize this or stop to think it over. This will stay on my mind now!

Jun 17, 2010 06:00 PM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

This is scarry.  I would have never thought an image was stored and saved on a hard drive. 

Jun 17, 2010 06:48 PM
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

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. 

Jun 17, 2010 08:24 PM
Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-PRO®, SFR
Century 21 Belk Realtors Dalton GA - Dalton, GA

And people think you're safe if you just stay off the Internet!!!

Jun 18, 2010 12:39 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

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.

Jun 18, 2010 12:47 AM
Sam White
College Station, TX
Integrated Marketing - Bryan College Station,

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!

Jun 18, 2010 12:54 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Jim and Maria, I wasn't aware that copy machines had hard drives in them. Thanks for the update.

Jun 18, 2010 01:46 AM
Rich Cotton
Rich Cotton The Waterfront Specialist EXiT Preferred Realty - Chesapeake City, MD
Waterfront Specialist Cecil and Kent Counties MD

Jim,

Thanks for the heads up. I am reblogging this important information.

Jun 18, 2010 01:49 AM
Erik Elsea
Erik Elsea-Jones & Co. Realty - Fort Myers, FL

Wow I had no idea they stored that information. Thank you for the heads up!

Jun 18, 2010 01:57 AM
Home Loan Search.Online
Home Loan Search Online - Newnan, GA

Gary I was thinking the same thing...

The more I think about it the more I question if anything is ever private anymore...

Jun 18, 2010 02:03 AM
Gordon W. Miller
Green Mountain Real Estate - Burlington, VT

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.

Jun 18, 2010 03:17 AM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

Just one more reason I really need to stop copying those $100 bills! (Just kidding, Big Brother!)

Jun 18, 2010 03:57 AM
Lori Cofer
Beasley Realty - Moscow, ID
REALTOR, Moscow Idaho Real Estate

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

Jun 18, 2010 01:17 PM
Gary Swanson
Century 21 Harris & Taylor - Grants Pass, OR

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.

Jun 21, 2010 02:22 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Wait a minute. You get a Featured Post and then you bail on us? LOL. Hope all is well.

Jul 01, 2010 01:32 PM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

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

Aug 12, 2010 07:37 AM
Elite Home Sales Team
Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA
A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

I really did not know that this was a situation is so serious.

Aug 18, 2010 06:31 PM
Kathleen Ann Pacheco-Corbett
(FIRST Exclusive Buyer's Office Providence-RI) - Providence, RI
Realtor, RI-MA, CEBA, Master, e-Pro, ABR, ABRM, GR

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.

Aug 18, 2010 06:55 PM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

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

Aug 18, 2010 07:02 PM