Can criminals ‘unshred’ your shredded docs?
August 4, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Security, Special Report
Paper shredders are a key component of document security — but as recent events show, it’s becoming easier to put shredded docs together again.
That’s what’s happening right now in the trial of R. Allen Stanford, who’s accused of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme. Federal prosecutors recently told a judge they’re reassembling evidence shredded by the Stanford Financial Group, Bloomberg.com reports.
The prosecutors said it’ll take about two months to put together three bags’ worth of shredded papers. How exactly are they doing it?
With sophisticated scanning technology. Technicians will feed every available shred into a scanner, and software will analyze the text based on size, color, indentation and font, guessing which pieces belong next to each other.
The process is complex, but the technology could become more readily available. A company based in Tel Aviv sells a product called the Unshredder, which it claims to be the world’s first commercial document reconstruction tool. With subscriptions starting at $90/month, the application allows anyone with a computer and scanner to piece shredded documents together.
What’s the risk that businesses will destroy sensitive information, only to have it salvaged by criminals? That depends on how the docs are shredded.
The long strips created by the least expensive shredders are the easiest to analyze. Cross-cut shredders that turn paper into little pieces of confetti cost more but are more secure. Then there are the really heavy duty models that pulverize documents into dust (for example, the machines the Department of Defense uses for top secret files).
Security is also increased by properly disposing of the shreds. Many companies outsource the process to service providers, where the paper is shredded and then recycled or otherwise securely destroyed.
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Tags: reconstructing shredded documents, Security, shredding
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August 5th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Obviously this is a painstaking very involved process that is not practical for personal shredding concerns. Back with the Iran takover when Jimmy Carter was President, with enough people, they were able to reconstruct shredded documents by hand. But if you are worried about that credit card solicitation, you shouldn’t. If they really want it, someone can go to a suburban mailbox and pull those items out of your mailbox before you get home. Kind of like the increase of car alarms created more carjackings, since it became easier to steal your car with you in it rather than when it is parked with the alarm activated. If you have really sensitive information, split up the shredded item or soak the paper and then dry out or stop being paranoid and enjoy your time on earth and realize there is no fool proof protection or precaution. You’ll be happier and live longer with a positive attitude in life.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:30 am
This has been going on forever even without expensive technology, people just don’t know about it. Years ago I had a client who was a private investigator. This gentleman had a special light table with a magnifying device. He painstakingly would put cross-cut shredded documents back together. If you give him a bag of shredding he can put it back together. He explained to me that the cutters in every shredder leave a repeating pattern from the blades as they cut almost like a fingerprint. From there its just like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:38 am
All your shreddings belong to us!