If confidential information falls into the wrong hands, the result can cost you big — from public relations embarrassments to lawsuits, fines, and huge loses of revenue. Never carelessly discard anything. Recent Federal and State legislation holds businesses to higher standards of confidentiality. Failure to comply means fines and litigation:

• GLB, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, requires companies engaged in financial activities to provide secure handling of client records and information — especially banks, mortgage and finance companies, brokers and underwriters, securities and investment firms, and non-bank financial service firms.

• HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act, protects security and privacy of private health information at human resources benefits administration and medical offices, not to mention service providers at hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and labs.

• State and local legislation is being proposed and passed throughout the nation in response to constituent alarm over privacy protection and identity theft — all laws supported by fines and the right to sue for damages.

Trash as Treasure
Going through your trash isn’t illegal. The Supreme Court ruled in 1988 that once trash is left for pickup, it’s public domain — with no expectation of privacy or ownership. Armed with bits of info from company trash, hackers invade networks, competitors gain an edge, and criminals rip off millions.