Businesses are being urged to effectively recycle confidential material in order to reduce their vulnerability to internet crime.

According to information released by System Associates, criminals can obtain critical information, such as email address and supplier details, simply by gaining access to company recycle bins, reports bCentral.

"One visit from a tenacious hacker to the office recycling bins can often provide enough information for them to bypass firewalls and other security systems and get straight to the heart of confidential information," said David Macken, managing director of System Associates.

The company also warned that recycling points could contain confidential system passwords.

Although forms of e-fraud vary, including the fraudulent use of credit cards, in addition to purchases from websites that appear legitimate, most e-fraud comes from electronic auctions, according to Western Economic Diversification Canada.