You may know about e-waste's environmental risks, but what about its security risks? Here's how hackers use discarded devices to steal your personal data.

Check more stories related to tech-stories at: https://hackernoon.com/c/tech-stories.

You can also check exclusive content about #e-waste, #data, #data-security, #hackers, #environmental-impact, #recycling-technology, #electronic-waste, #hackernoon-top-story, #hackernoon-es, #hackernoon-hi, #hackernoon-zh, #hackernoon-fr, #hackernoon-bn, #hackernoon-ru, #hackernoon-vi, #hackernoon-pt, #hackernoon-ja, #hackernoon-de, #hackernoon-ko, #hackernoon-tr, and more.

This story was written by: @zacamos. Learn more about this writer by checking @zacamos's about page,

and for more stories, please visit hackernoon.com.

Most e-waste goes to landfills, which is damaging to the environment — and to personal security. If people improperly dispose of a device, hackers can steal their personal data off the physical drives. To avoid e-waste hacking when disposing of a device, shred the data storage systems, use Darik's Boot and Nuke, leverage data encryption, and use reputable third parties.