Paper Shredder

The words “Paper Shredder” are used to describe a device which is used to tear paper into very fine strips or tiny paper chips, usually with the intention of keeping the contents of the paper away from prying eyes. Said another way, a paper shredder is used to destroy private, confidential, or sensitive documents.In times as uncertain as these, it is often recommended by privacy experts that individuals shred bills, credit card and bank account statements, and other documents that could be used by thieves to commit fraud or identity theft.The popularity of paper shredders in the United States goes back to the time just after the Supreme Court of the United States reached a decision in California v. Greenwood, in which the Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless search and seizure of garbage left for collection outside of a home.As shredded documents from cheaper paper shredders that are placed in the garbage can be collected and reassembled, for maximum security against prying eyes, documents should be shredded so that the words of the document go through the shredder horizontally (i.e., perpendicular to the blades). To see an example of the importance of shredding documents correctly, it is worth noting that the documents in the famous Enron accountancy scandal were fed through the shredder the wrong way, making them easier to reassemble.