Identity Theft Expert Speaker Protection Prevention Resource Blog

(SARASOTA, Fla. - Aug. 22, 2008 - One You Security) From mid-2006 to mid-2008, consumers’ private and confidential information went missing from a majority of U.K. firms, according to data announced earlier this summer by researchers who said 90 percent of these incidents went unreported to customers. The findings reflect major reasons for consumers to take proactive steps in controlling their own identities, said Robert Siciliano, widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security, LLC. While consumers have little purview over how businesses obtain and use their identifying data, according to Siciliano, they can turn to firms such as One You Security, whose services render Social Security numbers useless to thieves who would use them to commit financial fraud.

"What is all-too-evident and unfortunate is not only that consumers’ data in the hands of businesses often finds itself in harm’s way, but also that these consumers have little say over the circumstances," said Siciliano. "What’s even worse, however, is that an overwhelming majority of professionals responsible for all this data won’t even report a breach to the consumers whose information is involved. U.S. consumers can assume that the scenario over here is similar to that in the United Kingdom, and they really have only one practical option: to exercise better control over their identifying information by turning to services such as One You’s, which transforms the Social Security number into something of little use to financial fraudsters."

Subscribers to One You Security receive newsletters and special alerts from Siciliano. Through these, they get the latest information on data breaches and learn more about identity theft prevention. Chief security analyst for One You Security and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano regularly discusses data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News Network and elsewhere.

A study has found that 61 percent of marketing professionals in the United Kingdom experienced a data breach involving consumers’ confidential information during the 24 months leading up to an announcement in June of a report exploring the matter: the 2008 UK Study on Email Marketing Practices & Privacy. Alarmingly, these same professionals failed nine out of every 10 times to report the news to affected consumers, citing that they "were either not required to, or were unsure whether they had to," according to the Ponemon Institute’s survey of 900 data protection professionals and marketing professionals in the United Kingdom.

The research, commissioned by StrongMail, placed e-mail marketing ahead of not only other Internet marketing methods, but also telemarketing and direct mail outbound marketing channels, in the risks it poses to U.K. consumer data. Additionally, the research revealed, U.K. firms that outsourced their e-mail marketing efforts (60 percent of them, in all) saw a 28 percent increase in data breaches.

"Consumers have already lost control of their actual data to businesses, which have access to it from numerous sources and can use it for numerous purposes," said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. "But, despite the circumstances, consumers still haven’t lost control of their financial identities. Their information may already be out there, but by employing services such as One You, they can defuse their Social Security numbers’ capacity to help thieves who would otherwise use the digits to commit financial fraud."

Consumers who choose One You Security do so in part because the company strives to transform their Social Security numbers into meaningless strings of digits of no use to thieves. The firm backs all its offerings with a 100 percent service guarantee.

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves online and off-line. A collection of videos at VideoJug features Siciliano sharing advice on how consumers can protect themselves from identity theft and fraud.

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About One You Security, LLC

Sarasota, Fla.-based One You Security’s mission is to eliminate the threat and consequences of identity theft. For just $10 per month, anyone can sign up for One You Security’s identity theft protection service, a proactive, preventative approach whereby the company activates and manages its customers’ fraud alerts with major credit bureaus. Subscribers also receive full access to ongoing education from identity theft protection expert Robert Siciliano, chief security analyst for One You Security, which backs up its promise to protect clients’ financial identities with a 100 percent service guarantee. To sign up for One You Security, dial 1-800-434-2010.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, chief security analyst for One You Security, and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. Author of "The Safety Minute: 01" and leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft protection. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

Chris Harris
President & CEO of One You Security
PHONE: 941-342-0500 (x231)
chris@oneyou.com
http://www.oneyou.com

Robert Siciliano
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
Chief Security Analyst for One You Security
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://brentskinner.blogspot.com

(SARASOTA, Fla. - Aug. 7, 2008 - One You Security) A large majority of U.S. consumers think personal irresponsibility is the main cause of identity theft, reported ePaymentsnews Network in July. But the finding, from Javelin Strategy & Research, really indicates that consumers without access to fraud prevention services are unaware of how little control they in fact have over their own information, said Robert Siciliano, the widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security, LLC. Citing additional research, Siciliano suggested that firms stand much to gain by offering data breach victims an effective fraud prevention service, which One You Security provides.

"Consumers misunderstand the issue of identity theft and what causes it," said Siciliano. "No matter how careful consumers are with it, their information is already out there for any thief who wants it. The most responsible thing for them to do is to enroll in a service such as One You’s, which renders their Social Security numbers useless to the thieves who otherwise would use the digits to commit financial fraud. In fact, an institution itself can generate a great deal of good will among its customers by offering One You’s fraud prevention to them."

Subscribers to One You Security receive newsletters and special alerts from Siciliano. Through these, they get the latest information on data breaches and learn more about identity theft prevention. Chief security analyst for One You Security and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano regularly discusses data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News Network and elsewhere.

According to a recent news item in ePaymentsnews Network, a survey by Javelin Strategy & Research found 88 percent of U.S. consumers pointing to personal irresponsibility as the main cause of identity theft. Another study, released by Javelin in June, looked at the perceptions of consumers whose data had fallen prey to security breaches. Fifty-five percent of these consumers expressed diminished confidence in the breached organization’s ability to protect and manage their personal data, according to Javelin’s news release, which went on to note that 56 percent of these consumers favor a solution that prevents fraud. Furthermore, 55 percent of breach victims who were offered a fraud protection solution were more satisfied with the institution’s handling of the incident than were those consumers who were not offered anything.

"How can consumers expect to be personally responsible when a company loses to theft the Social Security numbers they were required to provide in the first place?" asked Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. "Consumers deserve, and soon will demand, the ability to be personally responsible with their data. This comes with fraud prevention services, which smart firms will offer. One You’s solution is a perfect example — an easy-to-use service that renders the consumer’s Social Security number functionally useless to the thief who would otherwise use the information to commit financial fraud at the consumer’s expense."

Consumers who choose One You Security do so in part because the company strives to transform their Social Security numbers into meaningless strings of digits of no use to thieves. The firm backs all its offerings with a 100 percent service guarantee.

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves online and off-line. A collection of videos at VideoJug features Siciliano sharing advice on how consumers can protect themselves from identity theft and fraud.

###

About One You Security, LLC

Sarasota, Fla.-based One You Security’s mission is to eliminate the threat and consequences of identity theft. For just $10 per month, anyone can sign up for One You Security’s identity theft protection service, a proactive, preventative approach whereby the company activates and manages its customers’ fraud alerts with major credit bureaus. Subscribers also receive full access to ongoing education from identity theft protection expert Robert Siciliano, chief security analyst for One You Security, which backs up its promise to protect clients’ financial identities with a 100 percent service guarantee. To sign up for One You Security, dial 1-800-434-2010.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, chief security analyst for One You Security, and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. Author of "The Safety Minute: 01" and leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft protection. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

Chris Harris
President & CEO of One You Security
PHONE: 941-342-0500 (x231)
chris@oneyou.com
http://www.oneyou.com

Robert Siciliano
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
Chief Security Analyst for One You Security
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://brentskinner.blogspot.com

(BOSTON, Mass. - Aug. 8, 2008 - IDTheftSecurity.com) More than 15,000 laptop computers go missing every week from airports in Europe, according to new research, which added credence to another study that showed a 6 percent year-over-year increase in laptop theft in 2007. Widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano encouraged business travelers and the companies that employ them to consider services from MyLaptopGPS, a laptop tracking and data recovery firm mentioned in the August 2008 issue of Inc. Magazine.

"The pace of laptop theft may be mind-blowing to the casual observer," said Siciliano. "But for those who follow these events, the numbers are anything but surprising. Business travelers and the organizations that employ them must look at laptop security as a requirement, not simply a ‘nice-to-have.’ Luckily, laptop security from MyLaptopGPS is affordable, which helps to precipitate the necessary changes in attitude."

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients through consumer education workshops that explore security solutions for businesses and individuals. A longtime identity theft speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News Network, and elsewhere.

According to research from The Ponemon Institute, every week approximately 3,300 laptop computers go missing, many of them to thieves, from Europe’s eight largest airports. About 900 of these incidents occur at London’s Heathrow Airport, alone, the joint study with Dell found.

Last year, the CSI Survey 2007 revealed that, compared to 2006, the rate of theft of laptop computers and mobile devices increased from 47 percent to 50 percent last year. This translated to a 6 percent increase over the previous year’s amount, which was "all the more believable in light of the sheer volume of missing laptops at European airports," Siciliano noted.

"Research study after research study shows that laptop computer theft is a pervasive occurrence whose aftermath is extremely expensive for any organization," said MyLaptopGPS’ chief technology officer, Dan Yost, who invited readers to visit the MyLaptopGPS blog. "MyLaptopGPS’ solution to laptop security, in contrast, is an affordable and simple-to-use alternative that can reverse the trend. Whereas the average laptop theft rate is more than twelve percent, the average theft rate for a laptop equipped with MyLaptopGPS is less than half a percent."

At its website, MyLaptopGPS maintains a log of high-profile laptop thefts. Additionally, the company’s site displays the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI™), a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses. The REDI also assesses those losses’ associated costs by drawing on estimates from the FBI and other sources that reflect the likelihood that identity theft and other crimes will occur whenever a computer is misplaced or stolen.

Anti-laptop theft technology such as MyLaptopGPS’ combines Internet-based GPS tracking — more effective than other forms of GPS for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops — with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. A user launches MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost computer.

"Our laptop fleet was certainly worth protecting," said Jim Sullivan, the network, systems and security administrator for FastForms, Inc. "We have procedures in place to help secure the machines, but we realized that we needed some key additional layers of security, such as covert tracking and remote-controlled data recovery and destruction. MyLaptopGPS’ solution is very easy to use, and we are quite satisfied. We would recommend MyLaptopGPS to any business seeking a simple solution to secure their laptops and data."

Additionally, MyLaptopGPS offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

Readers may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS. A white paper is also available.

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he discussed this year’s data security breach at Hannaford Bros. and provided consumers affected by the theft with the tips they needed to avoid paying for fraudulent charges to their bank accounts and credit accounts. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS™, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://www.brentskinner.blogspot.com

(BOSTON, Mass. - Aug. 4, 2008 - IDTheftSecurity.com) Laptop thefts at college campuses across the U.S. have affected untold numbers of college students, who are prime targets for identity thieves, research has shown. According to widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano, those who want a simple, effective way to retrieve and protect their lost or stolen laptop computers and the data stored on them should look to MyLaptopGPS, a laptop tracking and data recovery firm mentioned in the August 2008 issue of Inc. Magazine.

"Smart universities and individual college students alike will consider these numbers and decide to protect themselves by installing better security on their laptop computers," said Siciliano. "MyLaptopGPS at once provides one of the simplest and most effective options out there: Internet-based GPS tracking of stolen mobile devices and the simultaneous ability for subscribers to remotely retrieve and delete identity-revealing files from missing machines."

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients through consumer education workshops that explore security solutions for businesses and individuals. A longtime identity theft speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News Network, and elsewhere.

Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission reported that 32 percent of the complaints it received in 2007 (the highest amount) were related to identity theft. Of these identity theft-related incidents, the FTC found that nearly a third targeted those in the 18-29 year old age bracket, noted a July 28th news release from the Identity Theft Resource Center.

In a July 4th report, The Chronicle of Higher Education drew the intuitive link between laptop thefts from U.S. college campuses and the problem of identity theft. Furthermore, thefts of laptops at universities have continued at a breakneck clip. Typically, the stolen mobile device is never recovered. The exception to the rule was a story that TheAssociated Press ran on July 22: the return, apparently by the thief, of a stolen laptop computer belonging to an Indiana State University professor that "contained personal information on more than 2,500 current and former Indiana State students, including names, grades, e-mail addresses and some Social Security numbers," reported to the AP.

"Rarely is a stolen laptop computer found by the owner, let alone returned by the thief," said MyLaptopGPS’ chief technology officer, Dan Yost, who directed readers to a log of high-profile laptop thefts that the company records at its website. "For individuals, the typical consequences of laptop theft are not only the permanent loss of a machine, but also the ever-present specter of identity theft. For organizations, the loss of the machine itself is the least of their worries; the costs associated with full disclosure of the event to those possibly affected and the threat of reparative litigation are potentially crippling."

Along with a log of high-profile thefts, MyLaptopGPS‘ website keeps a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses. The Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI) also assesses those losses’ associated costs by drawing on estimates from the FBI and other sources that reflect the likelihood that identity theft and other crimes will occur whenever a computer is misplaced or stolen.

Anti-laptop theft technology such as MyLaptopGPS’ combines Internet-based GPS tracking — more effective than other forms of GPS for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops — with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. A user launches MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost computer.

"I am investing a fortune in my daughter’s college education," said Stanley Konopka, who selected MyLaptopGPS to help protect his college-bound daughter. "It makes perfect sense to spend a few dollars to protect and secure the most critical tool she has in earning her degree: her laptop."

Additionally, MyLaptopGPS offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

Readers may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS. A white paper is also available.

YouTube video below shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he discussed this year’s data security breach at Hannaford Bros. and provided consumers affected by the theft with the tips they needed to avoid paying for fraudulent charges to their bank accounts and credit accounts. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS™, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://www.brentskinner.blogspot.com

(BOSTON, Mass. - July 23, 2008 - IDTheftSecurity.com) Up to 12,000 laptop computers go missing every week at U.S. airports, research released in late June indicated, and the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) this week announced that it lost about one laptop computer every two days over the past four years. Laptop theft and loss is bound to occur, said widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano, who encouraged those seeking a simple, effective solution to the dilemma to consider the services and technology of MyLaptopGPS, a laptop tracking and data recovery firm.

"Laptop tracking and data recovery are not as complicated or expensive as they sound," said Siciliano. "In fact, the amount of money it takes to secure mobile computing devices of all kinds against thieves and carelessness is inconsequential compared to the potentially monumental cost of even one laptop theft or loss. Recovery of the hardware is just one part of the equation, after all, and perhaps the least important; lawsuits and the cost of informing all those whose data may have resided on the machine can add up to a catastrophic financial hit. And it’s all avoidable."

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients through consumer education workshops that explore security solutions for businesses and individuals. A longtime identity theft speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News Network, and elsewhere.

Nearly 640,000 laptop computers go missing at U.S. airports every year, revealed a report released on June 30 by the Ponemon Institute. Sponsored by Dell, the research explored travelers’ attention to the security of their laptop computers and the data stored on them. For instance, a full 65 percent of business travelers "do not take steps to protect the confidential or sensitive information contained on [their] laptop when traveling on business," according to the report, which went on to note that nearly half (47 percent) of these mobile machines store client, customer or consumer data.

In yet more worrisome news regarding the frequency of laptop computer theft and loss, Information World Review and others reported on July 21 that the MoD lost the equivalent of one laptop computer every two days over the past four years. Also lost were 121 USB memory sticks belonging to MoD, with a number of these containing information coded as "secret" or "restricted," Information World Review reported.

"Clearly, the theft or other loss of laptops occurs far more often than owners of them tend to believe," said MyLaptopGPS’ chief technology officer, Dan Yost, who directed readers to a log of high-profile laptop thefts that the company records at its website. "And this fact makes the laptop thief’s job easy, for the sentiment that laptop theft can’t happen to them lulls owners of mobile computing devices into leaving their machines unsecured. A slight yet significant shift in thinking is necessary for organizations and individuals that rely on laptop computers to recognize the great importance of securing them against loss and theft."

Along with a log of high-profile thefts, MyLaptopGPS‘ website keeps a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses. The Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI) also assesses those losses’ associated costs by drawing on estimates from the FBI and other sources that reflect the likelihood that identity theft and other crimes will occur whenever a computer is misplaced or stolen.

Anti-laptop theft technology such as MyLaptopGPS’ combines Internet-based GPS tracking — more effective than other forms of GPS for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops — with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. Users launch MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost computer.

"Our laptop fleet was certainly worth protecting," said Jim Sullivan, the network, systems and security administrator for FastForms, Inc. "We have procedures in place to help secure the machines, but we realized that we needed some key additional layers of security, such as covert tracking and remote-controlled data recovery and destruction. MyLaptopGPS’ solution is very easy to use, and we are quite satisfied. We would recommend MyLaptopGPS to any business seeking a simple solution to secure their laptops and data."

Additionally, MyLaptopGPS offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

Readers may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS. A white paper is also available.

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on "FOX Newschannel," where he discussed this year’s data security breach at Hannaford Bros. and provided consumers affected by the theft with the tips they needed to avoid paying for fraudulent charges to their bank accounts and credit accounts. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS™, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://www.brentskinner.blogspot.com

(BOSTON, Mass. - May 15, 2008 - IDTheftSecurity.com) Last month, reports of one laptop computer stolen from an IT company that caters to colleges across New York State left thousands of students at possible risk of identity theft and other crimes. But simple technology from MyLaptopGPS that resides on mobile computers could have greatly minimized the potential fallout, said Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft protection expert who urged educational institutions to equip their fleets of mobile computing devices with MyLaptopGPS’ antitheft security.

"Laptop computers are prime targets for thieves," said Siciliano. "And with that comes the danger that identity thieves will then use the robust identifying information that universities and colleges tend to leave stored on the machines. Smart educational institutions protect their mobile computing equipment with theft prevention technology."

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients through consumer education workshops that explore security solutions for business and individuals. A longtime identity theft protection speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s "Today Show," FOX Newschannel, and elsewhere.

Late in April, multiple sources reported that a laptop computer had been stolen from New York State–based software company SunGard Higher Education, an outsourced IT provider to numerous educational institutions. The purloined machine left many thousands of current and former students at Meridian Community College, Buffalo State, Brockport, and Monroe Community College at risk of identity theft; according to reports, all these colleges had contracted for IT services with the firm, whose machine housed identifying information on their students.

"Why would I send my college student to school and then not protect her critical coursework, and even her identity, on her laptop at campus?" asked Fred Weamer, a father who installed MyLaptopGPS on his daughter’s laptop computer before she left for college. "MyLaptopGPS is a rock solid service and keeps my mind at ease while my daughter earns her degree."

MyLaptopGPS combines Internet-based GPS tracking — which, for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops, is more effective than other forms of GPS — with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. Users launch MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost computer.

Additionally, MyLaptopGPS offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

Readers may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS. A white paper is also available.

At its website, MyLaptopGPS keeps a running tally, the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI), of publicized laptop and desktop computer theft and losses. The REDI also assesses those losses’ associated costs by drawing on estimates from the FBI and elsewhere reflecting the likelihood that identity theft and other crimes will occur whenever a laptop is misplaced or stolen. On May 15, that tally was 411 units and the cost associated with it $355,642,050, an amount representing a 70 percent increase in cost since the REDI’s launch just three months ago.

"Since February, thefts have been tracking to at least double in frequency over year 2007," said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. "But, with the latest results of the REDI now in, the year-over-year increase in the financial consequences of computer theft may in fact be a tripling or more."

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on "FOX Newschannel," where he discusses the recent data security breach at Hannaford Bros. and provides affected consumers with the tips they need to avoid paying for fraudulent charges to their bank accounts and credit accounts. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About MyLaptopGPS™

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS™, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others.

For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.biz
www.STETrevisions.biz

(BOSTON, Mass. - March 31, 2008 - IDTheftSecurity.com) Laptop thefts reported this week exposed more than 90,000 unique data records to thieves, further contributing to a fast-paced increase in the crime’s collective cost this year. But technology simple and affordable to use could have kept these data records from thieves’ eyes, said Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert.

"Laptop theft is at once insidious and preventable," said Siciliano. "Many owners of laptops share the ‘it-can’t-happen-to-me’ mentality, an attitude that lulls them into a false sense of comfort that convinces them their machines need no theft prevention technology. And at organizations that own entire fleets of mobile computing equipment, the cost of prevention prevents them from securing their machines. But laptop computers are highly prone to theft and loss, and the cost of doing nothing in fact carries with it potentially catastrophic costs in the event of even just one laptop theft, whereas preventive measures can cost very little."

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients in workshops that explore consumer education solutions for security issues. A longtime identity theft speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News, and elsewhere.

News outlets reported laptop thefts of comparable concern to security experts but of disproportionate immediate impact to consumers in March. Following are three examples:

• On March 25th, Computerworld reported that a mobile computer stolen from the car of a third-party contractor to Santa Clara, Calif.–based Agilent Technologies Inc. The computer contained names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and investments-related financial data on current and former employees of Agilent, prompting the test and measurement equipment supplier, according to the Computerworld article, to send 51,000 letters of notification to past and existing employees possibly affected by the data breach.

• Just days earlier, multiple news outlets reported the theft of a laptop computer belonging to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Stolen from the automobile of a researcher for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (part of the NIH), the "computer contained information on about 2,500 patients enrolled in a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study conducted… in Bethesda, Md.," according to a spokesperson for the NHLBI quoted on March 24 in Government Executive.

• The March 11thBuffalo News reported that HealthNow New York, Buffalo parent of Blue Cross Blue Shield in the western part of that state, had informed 40,000 members that they were at risk of identity theft; their private data, stored on a former employee’s laptop computer, had gone missing along with the machine, according to the article. Among the data lost were names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, employer group names, and health insurance identifier numbers, TheBuffalo News found.

In February, MyLaptopGPS™, provider of Internet-based GPS tracking software for stolen mobile computing equipment, launched the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI) to keep a running tally of high-profile laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses and their associated costs. The REDI’s calculation draws on estimates from the FBI and elsewhere reflecting the likelihood that identity theft and other crimes will occur when a laptop is lost.

Visible at the company’s website, the REDI estimated the financial damage from computer losses since the beginning of this year alone to be $325,376,519 as of March 11th. Today’s REDI estimate of $344,296,005 represented a nearly 6 percent jump over just three weeks’ time, and an 11 percent jump since February. The $9.95 monthly subscription fee for MyLaptopGPS’s software paled in comparison.

"We predict that by this time in 2009 the total cost of computer theft will have roughly doubled," said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. "Consistently tracking five to six percent increases every three or so weeks, the REDI estimates continue to support our expectations, portending a stratospheric year-over-year increase."

MyLaptopGPS combines Internet-based GPS tracking — which, for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops, is more effective than other forms of GPS — with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. Users launch MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost computer.

"My laptop is a crucial tool," said Eddie Manning, proprietor of London Airport Transfer Service. "It contains vital business information, even if it doesn’t contain ‘thousands of social security numbers’ like the headline stolen ones do. There is no way I or my business can afford to have the data, nor the machine itself, just walk away. MyLaptopGPS is the answer."

Readers may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS. A white paper is also available.

Additionally, MyLaptopGPS offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

According to USA Today, theft of personal data more than tripled in 2007. Readers may view a video below of Siciliano discussing this news on the new "FOX Business" network. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug

###

About MyLaptopGPS

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS™, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others.

For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.biz
www.STETrevisions.biz

(BOSTON, Mass. - March 11, 2008 - IDTheftSecurity.com) In the U.K., wide-scale laptop computer thefts and losses from the country’s government agencies have contributed to a continuing rise in the estimated cost of laptop theft. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, urged organizations to dodge the financial risk of by adopting affordable laptop computer security measures such as those from MyLaptopGPS™.

"Laptop theft is more than a nuisance," said Siciliano. "Loss of the hardware is the least of an organization’s worries. Just one lost mobile computer can set a business back thousands of dollars. The associated cost of informing all those whose sensitive information resides on the stolen or otherwise lost machine is just one consideration. And then there are the catastrophic legal bills from potential class action lawsuits. Inexpensive preventive measures are far preferable to a roll of the dice."

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients in workshops that explore consumer education solutions for security issues. A longtime identity theft speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s "Today Show," FOX News, and elsewhere.

Laptop thefts in the U.K. publicized over the past month have left countless unique data records at risk of further foul play. The government there admitted that it had misplaced or lost to thieves more than 1,000 mobile computers, the Agence France-Presse reported in early March, with 20 percent or more of these having gone missing in 2007.

In a recent example of the hemorrhaging, news outlets reported in February the loss of 5,123 patients’ data records on a laptop computer stolen from a National Health Service hospital in the U.K. In reports last month, the loss of two laptops from the Royal Navy placed another 600,000 unique data records in jeopardy of further foul play.

Three weeks ago, MyLaptopGPS™, provider of Internet-based GPS tracking software for stolen mobile computing equipment, announced the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI). The REDI keeps a running tally of high-profile laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses and the associated costs.

Visible at the company’s website, the REDI estimated the financial damage from computer losses since the beginning of this year alone to be $309,318,519 as of Feb. 21st. Today’s total of $325,376,519 represented a 5 percent increase in just three weeks’ time, a rate that would lead to nearly a 90 percent year-over-year rise in cost by March of 2009. The REDI’s calculation, based on estimates from the FBI and elsewhere reflecting the likelihood that identity theft and other crimes will occur when a laptop is lost, dwarfed the cost of the $9.95 monthly subscription fee for MyLaptopGPS’s software.

"Ninety percent is eye-opening," said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. "And yet, the year-over-year increase by this time in 2009 could even exceed one hundred percent. By the middle of February the REDI had already calculated nearly three hundred million dollars in financial losses due to laptop theft this year. Compare that to less than twenty dollars, which is what MyLaptopGPS would have cost any one organization during the same time period. The smart choice is clear."

A downloadable demo of MyLaptopGPS is available. A white paper is also available.

MyLaptopGPS combines Internet-based GPS tracking — which, for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops, is more effective than other forms of GPS — with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. Users launch MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost computer.

"My laptop is a crucial tool," said Eddie Manning, proprietor of London Airport Transfer Service. "It contains vital business information, even if it doesn’t contain ‘thousands of social security numbers’ like the headline stolen ones do. There is no way I or my business can afford to have the data, nor the machine itself, just walk away. MyLaptopGPS is the answer."

MyLaptopGPS also offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

According to USA Today, theft of personal data more than tripled in 2007. Readers may view video of Siciliano below discussing this news on the new "FOX Business" network. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS™, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others.

For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.biz
www.STETrevisions.biz

(BOSTON, Mass. - Dec. 5, 2007 - IDTheftSecurity.com) News reports indicated last week that law enforcement authorities recently arrested a New Zealand-based, 18-year-old alleged leader of a botnet. According to Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, law enforcement activities that led to the apprehension of the teenager and others this year are critical in the fight against computer crime. But he also noted that computer users themselves can do a great deal to thwart criminal hackers’ activities.

“Robust law enforcement is a key approach to slowing criminal computer hackers,” said Siciliano. “These criminals need to know that somebody might be watching. But just as important is robust computer system security. Criminal hackers, including those who specialize in botnet activity, take the path of least resistance and often will be dissuaded by computers that have up-to-date antivirus software and hardy firewall protection installed.”

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients in workshops that explore consumer education solutions for security issues. An experienced identity theft speaker and author of “The Safety Minute: 01,” he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s “Today Show,” FOX News, and elsewhere.

On Nov. 30, the Guardian Unlimited reported that law enforcement officials in New Zealand had apprehended an 18-year-old, alleged leader of a botnet hacking ring who went by the online identity of “Akill.” His ring, according to the article, was responsible for the remote control of about 1.3 million computers and the pilfering of $20 million. (Wikipedia defines a botnet as “a jargon term for a collection of software robots, or bots, [that] run autonomously and automatically…on groups of ‘zombie’ computers controlled remotely by hackers.”)

On the same day, Computerworld ran an article covering the events in New Zealand. Computerworld’s report further revealed that the arrest of the teenager was part of Operation Bot Roast, an FBI effort to crack zombie computer rings by working with law enforcement agencies worldwide.

“The FBI’s success in bringing criminal computer hackers to justice is to be applauded,” said Siciliano. “But the lack of attention to computer security on the part of individual users is making law enforcement’s job all the more challenging and urgent. Anyone with a personal computer must take antivirus and firewall security seriously.”

Siciliano added that criminal hackers use computers compromised by spyware and viruses, including those that facilitate botnet activity, to commit identity theft and fraud. Furthermore, he said the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps identity thieves both online and off-line. Earlier this year he appeared on “FOX News” to explain how (readers may view YouTube video of his comments below).

Anyone wishing to learn how to protect himself or herself against identity theft may view video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients.

A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on “The Today Show,” CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, “FOX News,” “The Suze Orman Show,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Maury Povich,” “Sally Jesse Raphael,” “The Howard Stern Show,” and “Inside Edition.” The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others.

Visit Siciliano’s Web site, www.IDTheftSecurity.com; blog, www.realtysecurity.com/blog; and YouTube page, http://youtube.com/stungundotcom.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with Siciliano directly:

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

The media may also contact:

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.biz
www.STETrevisions.biz

(BOSTON, Mass. - Nov. 29, 2007 - IDTheftSecurity.com) Reports during November indicated that online threats such as spyware continue to increase in frequency and maliciousness. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, said that even though computer users may hear more about computer threats during the shopping season, they must always exercise caution online.

“As the holiday shopping season sets into full swing,” said Siciliano, “news of dangers to online consumers will increase. This is a good thing; everyone needs a constant reminder of the security threats that lurk on the Web. But the vigilance must also be constant, evident throughout the year, and not just between Thanksgiving and the New Year.”

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients in workshops that explore consumer education solutions for security issues. An experienced identity theft speaker and author of “The Safety Minute: 01,” he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s “Today Show,” FOX News, and elsewhere.

As reported by darkREADING on Nov. 27, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) surveyed 1,070 organizations and found that 55 percent had experienced an increase in spyware over the past year.

Also on Nov. 27, the SANS (short for “SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security”) Institute, a self-described cooperative research and education organization, posted in a news release its picks for the “Top 20 Internet Security Risks of 2007.” One of the scenarios that SANS cited was a type of phishing attack known as spear phishing, which, by targeting specific individuals using company machines, infects those machines. This transforms the compromised machines to portals that give hackers access into organizations’ entire networks. (Keyloggers, zombies, and other threats with similarly exotic-sounding names also made SANS’ list.)

One new threat, reported in SC Magazine on Nov. 7, has masqueraded itself as a solution. According to the article, a banner ad prompts those who click on it to purchase putative anti-spyware software. But the landing page instead collects victims’ money and credit card information in exchange for a program that downloads a virus that collects the personal information from the infected computer over time.

Bogus sites with URLs similar to presidential campaigners’ have been reported as well. A Nov. 1st news release from Webroot Software, Inc. urged Internet users to use caution when searching online for information on presidential candidates. According to the release, the company has detected links to malicious software downloads from spoofed presidential candidate Websites.

Spoofed Websites, just as the term implies, are bogus. The same day of Webroot’s announcement, a ComputerWorld article speculated that hackers might use the fake sites to obtain a portion of campaign contributions, which increasingly take place online.

“Just as predicted, hackers are getting more and more sophisticated and clever,” said Siciliano. “Computer users can install all the antispyware, antivirus, and other software they want — and they should. But the ingredient really needed is common sense. Just because a computer has the latest, greatest protection installed doesn’t render it untouchable; a smart user does.”

Readers may view YouTube video below of Siciliano on “FOX News,” explaining how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves online and off-line. Those wishing to learn how to protect themselves against identity theft, a major concern for anyone who has fallen prey to online scammers, may view video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

###

About IDTheftSecurity.com
Identity theft affects us all. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients.

A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on “The Today Show,” CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, “FOX News,” “The Suze Orman Show,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Maury Povich,” “Sally Jesse Raphael,” “The Howard Stern Show,” and “Inside Edition.” The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others.

Visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with Siciliano directly:

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
www.idtheftsecurity.com

The media may also contact:

Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.biz
www.STETrevisions.biz