why shred?

The Information Commissioner’s Office is taking more action to avoid data breaches in organisations. A 24% increase in fines were reported in the last 12 reported months, with the average size of the fine doubling to £146,000. (City Law Firm RPC, October 2018)

Up to 28% of information breaches are caused by employee error or negligence. (Cost of a Data Breach UK. Ponemon Institute. 2017)

Financial Services companies that experienced an information breach in 2018, suffered the highest cost per capita than any other industry at £154, a 6.5% rise over the last two years Source: Cost of a Data Breach, UK, Ponemon Institute 2018

PWC’s Law Firms’ Survey 2017 states that 60% of law firms reported that they had suffered an information security incident in the last year.

22% of charities identified cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months (Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2019)

The first paper shredder was invented by Mr Abbot Augustus Low from New York in 1909 – “to offer a more compact way of disposing of waste paper”. In 1935, a German engineer named Adolf Ehinger created another shredding machine and he did so in a hurry…..its purpose was to shred hundreds of volumes of anti-Nazi propaganda before Hitler’s secret police found it.

Did you know that cross cut shredders became the norm after 1979? This happened after Iranian revolutionaries stormed the American embassy and seized loads of shredded paper. Because the shredders only cut one way, the revolutionaries were able to stick together the thin strips of paper to access stacks (literally) of confidential information.

Did you know that it is not illegal for someone to go through your rubbish? What’s more, anything they find in there is fair game – including your personal details?

Did you know that only 10% of identity theft cases happen through online exchanges? The majority of identity theft is via paper means.

Did you know that shredding 1 tonne of paper saves, on average 17 trees and prevents air and water pollution?