Join Northeastern for Data Destruction Day

Have you upgraded to a new device? Did you know that a factory reset doesn’t completely wipe your old data? If a device contains any data or files, you need to destroy it in a safe and secure manner so that no one can access your old information and use it for malicious purposes. But how?

The annual Data Destruction Day is back! This event will be hosted on the Boston campus on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. At this event, students, faculty, and staff are invited to bring personal devices and paper materials for safe and secure physical destruction.

Yes, that old laptop, smartphone, printer, or smart speaker is eligible! Simply bring your devices and paper files to the event and on-site staff will take care of the rest. This event ensures that your data cannot be recovered from old devices. As an added bonus, this is also an environmentally sustainable way to dispose of electronics!

Unable to attend the event in person? There are other ways you can participate in Data Destruction Day to ensure you responsibly dispose of and recycle your e-waste. Remember to always remove any personal information and other types of sensitive data from your devices before recycling them. 

Check in with your local waste management service to learn about the e-waste regulations that might be in effect for your town or city. Many areas provide collection services or drop-off sites. 

Plus, take the 10-day Digital Sustainability Challenge to brush up on your digital habits, optimize digital devices, reduce paper waste, and decrease your digital footprint.

Walk-ins are encouraged. However, to get an idea of event capacity, registration is appreciated.

Data Destruction Day is only one of several events Northeastern has planned for Cybersecurity Awareness Month during the month of October. View the Cybersecurity Awareness Month page for information about more activities and events planned, and available beyond Boston, to help keep your data secure!