Which Shredders Are Best For Preventing Identity Theft?
When it comes to preventing identity theft, shredders play a key role. After all, the type of shredder you have can make all the difference in the world. An identity thief isn't beyond piecing together paper strips to get the information they need. Trying to put back together thousands of pieces of confetti, however, is a different story entirely. If you're serious about preventing identity theft, these shredders are the ones you should be looking into.
Fellowes Powershred SB-95C
When it comes to preventing identity theft, the Fellowes Powershred (model SB-95C) does it's job well. It'll cross shred your papers along with staples and paper clips about 10 pages at a time and can handle more than 1500 pages per day. However, if you have small children at home, this might not be the tool for you. It doesn't have any safety locks or child guards, making it a dangerous hazard for little fingers. The price might be an issue too. Plan on spending at least $200.
Royal 85X
When it comes to preventing identity theft with shredders, you usually get what you pay for. If you want to spend less than $100, you're going to be hard-pressed to find a shredder that will do the job. This one, however, is the exception. The Royal 85X is a cross-cut paper shredder that can handle about 4 or 5 sheets of paper at a time as well as any staples that might find their way into the machine.
For Those Who Refuse To Get a Shredder
For those of you who absolutely refuse to get a shredder for safety/security reasons but are still serious about preventing identity theft, I have a tip for you. Consider burning your papers. Save them up and every three months or so, burn them outside (if you can without causing a fire hazard and if it's legal where you live). I don't, however, suggest burning them in your fireplace. Only fireplace-worthy wood should go in there due to chimney build-ups and fire hazards.
If you dispose of your documents properly, your risk of identity theft will be greatly reduced. The right paper shredder makes all the difference in the world. Keep this in mind when preventing identity theft is your priority.