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- Information about data protection
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- Magnetic data carriers
Destroying data securely - Magnetic data carriers
ISO/IEC 21964 (DIN 66399) not only covers the destruction of data carriers such as paper or hard drives, but also the destruction of magnetic data carriers such as magnetic cards or floppy disks. The GDPR also applies to this type of data carrier, which means that these data carriers must also be destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations.
Cutting magnetic cards
If you want to destroy a magnetic card by cutting it up, this is not enough to prevent it being viewed and read. The name as well as the verification number remain visible, so that unauthorized persons can still use the cut card to make purchases and pay with it, for example in online shops.
Scratching magnetic cards
Destroying a magnetic card by scratching the magnetic strip is not enough to make the data unreadable. The name and verification number are still visible and readable, so this card can still be used for payments in online shops.
This means that protection against card misuse by third parties is not guaranteed, despite the supposed destruction of the card.
Destroying floppy disks
If you want to destroy data on a floppy disk, it is advisable to destroy the floppy disk itself. However, destroying the floppy disk yourself is not reliable. On the one hand, there is always the danger that the data can be restored if it is not destroyed correctly, and on the other hand, there is a risk of injury.
The method of burning the floppy disk to destroy the data is both harmful for the environment and a health risk due to the gases released during the combustion process.
Safely destroying magnetic data media
In order to destroy magnetic data carriers and the data on them in accordance with the law, the use of a suitable data media shredder or document shredder is recommended.
If you have a modern, high-quality shredder, it is not absolutely necessary to purchase a separate shredder for magnetic data media, because, depending on their features, modern document shredders can also destroy magnetic data media. Here too, make sure that the shredder has a sufficiently high security level to meet the protection requirements of your data.
