Keeping data safe
at the RESPONSE Agency
This morning a client requested a change on the mailing list I keep on file for the rather large company she works for. I would have been happy to comply were it not for one, small hitch. I don’t keep my clients’ mailing lists on file. Once a list has served its purpose, I delete it. That way neither you nor I need fear that some future, would-be hacker might find it. |
But just in case someone finds the device, I create a password-protected folder for the data. Trust me, no one will figure out the password. I mean, would you have guessed something like ... Ha!
But just in case someone figures out the password, I never label the file with the company’s name. I give it a number. Also, I make sure there are no account numbers on it. That way, if would-be hackers found my offsite hiding place and figured out the password, what would they end up with? A meaningless list of names and addresses devoid of context. They might as well copy a page from a phone book. It would be a lot less trouble, and no less useful.
—Steve Cuno