Are used ribbons a security threat?

Even the simplest, most innocuous item will be used by the unscrupulous. Protecting your students, staff and employees from identity theft is an endless and uphill battle, especially when everyday trash is a ready supply of personal data. 

A forger with a used printer ribbon has the name of every student and the school they attend. Access to every employee and the division or unit they are assigned to. Even bar codes intended to protect and encode personal identifiers are clearly visible and vulnerable. Anything that can be seen by the human eye can be easily duplicated to create a fake ID and potentially allow access where no access should be given. 

You likely shred documents, even junk mail, to destroy personal information but what about the data left behind on printer ribbons used to create plastic card IDs? Names, ID numbers, division location, rank, and a host of other personal information may be easily retrieved from used printer ribbons. For whatever information is carried on your ID card, there is an equal, mirror image left on the printer ribbon.

​While conventional paper shredders may seem the most obvious answer, truth is, they are not designed to properly destroy the film-like material used in printer ribbons. As the slippery waste goes through a paper shredder, it will tear into large pieces, overheat and quickly jam. A paper shredder simply can't chew up printer ribbons into unreadable pieces.  

IDP recognized this security concern and designed a shredder that is specifically made to handle ID card printer ribbons. Their product, the Smart-Bit, twists the used printer ribbon before it is pulled into the "teeth" of the shredder. When complete, there is nothing left but tiny pieces similar to colorful, shiny confetti. 

Check out this Smart-bit video. You'll be surprised at the efficiency of the ribbon shredder. A simple machine delivering powerful data security.