Giving computers to charity

[Walsingham]

Computers being given to charity are not having their HDs removed or properly wiped. Details taken from these computers are being sold in Lagos, Nigeria, according to the BBC. They are then used for identity theft.

 

1. Take care to remove or wipe (clinically) your HD when giving away or selling your old PCs.

 

2. Let's have a round of applause to the b*stards taking advantage of charitable instinct. May they meet with a commensurate fate.

[SteveThaiBinh]

As well as people who have their identities stolen, the victims of this crime are also the schools, medical clinics and NGOs in developing countries who won't get the computers they need because Westerners are frightened off donating because of this. These criminals are not just stealing from rich Westerners, they're stealing from the poorest of the poor. :angry:

Edited August 14, 2006 by SteveThaiBinh

[Kaftan Barlast]

I know data-theft is the reason why no Swedish companies ever give away or sell old computers, opting instead to have them thouroughly "destruated" (which isnt such a bad thing considering the amount of gold recycled from circuits)

 

 

 

And come on! We know all these little brats in the third world would ever do with these computers is to waste precious time playing games and browsing pornography, time that could have been spent making shoes in the Nike factory. So either we stop this silly notion of charity, or the Lakers will have to play the next season barefoot. Is that what you want, huh? Is it?!

Edited August 14, 2006 by Kaftan Barlast

[alanschu]

Give away everything but the harddrive.

 

If you're concerned about identity theft, you should probably drive a nail through the drive.

[metadigital]

Just sounds like honest capitalism, to me. We need to attack the problem at the root cause: kill all Nigerians. No, hang on ... kill all the poor? No, that's not right, either ... make the poor rich! That's it!

[jaguars4ever]

Nobody does scams/credit card|bank fraud/identity theft etc., better than the Nigerians. Nobody. They're even better at this than the Brazilians are at soccer. It would be quite impressive too if it weren't so damn annoying.

[Walsingham]

So either we stop this silly notion of charity, or the Lakers will have to play the next season barefoot. Is that what you want, huh? Is it?!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

:D YES!

At the very least the Braves ought to.

 

Steve, I agree. This really sucks.

 

On the subject of the Nigerians being aces at this sort of thing I know one oughtn't to tar all Nigerians with the same brush. But I wonder if a little bit of tar might not convince the Nigerians themselves to do something about this. National pride can be used for good as well as evil.