Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security: Save Money on Rising Costs of Data Breaches by Spending it on Better Security That Costs Less

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Dec. 19, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) A national news organization’s analysis of the year’s data thefts has found that the number of these has tripled in 2007 over the previous year, and end-of-year research showed that the associated costs also rose. According to Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, organizations could save money by spending it on security that costs less.

"Whenever data is stolen, an identity thief is not too far behind," said Siciliano. "With a threefold increase this year over the number of data breaches in 2006 — already a year rife with data thefts — industry leaders have an enormous problem on its hands. Security needs to improve, and quickly."

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," on FOX News, and elsewhere.

On Dec. 9, USA Today presented its own analysis of the year’s data breaches, reporting a greater than 300 percent increase in the number of sensitive data records lost in 2007 vs. the previous year, from 49.7 gone missing in 2006 to more than 162 million in 2007. Furthermore, according to the Ponemon Institute’s "2007 Annual Study: Cost of a Data Breach," announced on Nov. 28, the cost per lost record for organizations that experience data breaches has risen by more than 8 percent, from $182 last year to $197 in 2007. Significantly affecting the increase, customers took their business elsewhere in greater numbers following data breaches this past year, the study found.

Concerns over widespread identity theft follow any large data breach. On Dec. 18, Vancouver, Canada’s "News 1130 All News Radio" reported that the Better Business Bureau named identity theft as one of the top ten scams of 2007. In a year replete with fraud and scams, news reports in December provided yet more anecdotal evidence to support this. For instance, on Dec. 3, vnunet.com reported that authorities had identified "more than 100 websites…selling account information for U.K. bank customers." The sites contained customers’ account details, PINs, and security codes.

"It is through data breaches that thieves acquire inventories of sensitive information such as bank account numbers and the associated PINs and security codes," said Siciliano. "This data is worth big bucks on the black market. Why else would data breaches be growing in their frequency? If more than 162 million unique data records have gone missing this past year, the only responsible thing to do is to conclude that 162 million unique data records are now in the hands of thieves all over the place."

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.

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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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security: Just Two Laptop Thefts Reported on Same Day Left as Many as 328,000 Unique Data Records in Jeopardy

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Dec. 13, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Reports on Dec. 7th of just two laptop computer thefts left as many as 328,000 unique data records in jeopardy of falling into the hands of identity thieves. According to Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, laptop thefts are bound to occur, but affordable, robust solutions such as MyLaptopGPS™’s are available that couple Internet-based GPS tracking with remote delete-and-retrieve technology to protect lost machines and the data they hold.

“It’s a large number,” said Siciliano, “but, no matter the number, thefts like these would never make the news if stolen mobile equipment and the data housed on them were properly secured. Plenty of robust, affordable solutions exist, and smart organizations see the need for exhaustive laptop computer security.”

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.

Dec. 7th saw reports of two laptop thefts that together placed 328,000 data records in harm’s way:

The Guardian Unlimited reported the theft of a laptop belonging to the Belfast, U.K.-based bank Citizens Advice, a loss that included the “personal details of up to 60,000 people,” according to the article.

InfoWorld reported the theft of a laptop belonging to Memorial Blood Centers. According to the article, sensitive information on 268,000 Minnesota-based blood donors is housed in the missing machine.

Siciliano pointed organizations that need an affordable, simple solution for laptop security to MyLaptopGPS™.

“Clearly, organizations of all kinds are apt to store highly confidential, sensitive data on mobile computers,” said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. “The trick is to make sure that information, as well as the machine, is secure. MyLaptopGPS not only tracks the whereabouts of a lost laptop computer, but also allows an owner to control the fate of data on the machine even as it’s still in thieves’ hands.”

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.

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. A downloadable demo of MyLaptopGPS is available.

The October 2007 issue of Bank Fraud & IT Security Report, a newsletter published only in hard copy, ran “The Seven Layers of Laptop Security,” an article by Siciliano and Yost. A white paper adaptation of that article is available from MyLaptopGPS.

Below, readers may view YouTube video of “NBC 7 Chicago” footage featuring Yost delivering comments for a televised news report that covered the April 2007 theft of two laptops that stored 40,000 Chicago Public School teachers’ Social Security numbers.


 

According to USA Today, theft of personal data has more than tripled this year. 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 has been affected by the theft of a laptop computer, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

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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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security: Young, Organized Criminal Hackers Can Hijack Unprotected Computers on a Grand Scale

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(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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security: Potential Legal Costs of Laptop Theft Make Technology Designed to Combat it All the More Attractive

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Nov. 30, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Reports have indicated that physicians and other health officials in the U.K. may be fined for losing laptop computers. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, said the development is unsurprising in light of the associated costs of mobile computer theft, but suggested that better responses to the growing, prohibitively costly crime exist. He pointed to MyLaptopGPS™, a high-tech foil to laptop thieves that tracks stolen machines via Internet-based GPS and enables organizations to retrieve and destroy important computer files even as the computers are in criminals’ hands.

“A large portion of the financial losses in the wake of laptop thefts is often attributable to legal fees,” said Siciliano. “This is especially true if sensitive data is on the stolen machine. And, for some reason, valuable data is often stored on mobile computing devices. It makes sense that governments are taking measures to dissuade the careless use of laptops.”

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.

According to a Nov. 15th article in Network World, “Doctors and health officials who lose laptops containing patient information could face prosecution under new rules being considered by the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).”

Various estimates have underscored the frequency and high potential cost of laptop theft:

• Symantec has found that a laptop computer is stolen every 53 seconds, and that 97 percent of these machines lost to theft are never recovered.

• Research from Gartner Group has shown that the cost of laptop computer theft can exceed $6,000 for even just one machine.

• The Computer Science Institute/FBI Computer Crime & Security Survey has estimated the number to be an average of $89,000 per machine.

• The Annual Computer Crime and Security Survey estimated the average loss to be $250,000 in 2003.

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation has reported that total losses attributable to laptop theft equaled more than $6.7 million dollars in 2005.

Legal liabilities in the wake of data breaches have precedent. In early 2007, a data breach at TJX Companies Inc. affected more than 45 million past customers of the U.S. retailer. Articles that later ran in internetnews.com, the North Andover, Mass.–based Eagle Tribune, and other publications suggested that TJX fielded numerous lawsuits as a result.

“Smart organizations are avoiding the headaches of laptop thefts,” said Siciliano. “They’re equipping their laptop computers with technology that helps to ensure the retrieval of missing machines and the security of the data on them.”

Organizations that need an affordable, simple solution for laptop security may turn to MyLaptopGPS™. The product 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.

MyLaptopGPS also offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers. A downloadable demo of MyLaptopGPS is available.

“It’s understandable why those in possession of laptops belonging to their employers might be subject to fines when the machines go missing,” said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. “Even so, thefts often happen despite users’ best attempts to secure machines because the computers are bereft of robust security technology. MyLaptopGPS takes much of the risk out of laptop theft. While tracking the stolen machine, it retrieves and deletes the hard drive’s contents before the criminal can even get to them.”

The October 2007 issue of Bank Fraud & IT Security Report, a newsletter published only in hard copy, ran “The Seven Layers of Laptop Security,” an article by Siciliano and Yost. A white paper adaptation of that article is available from MyLaptopGPS.

Readers may view YouTube video below of “NBC 7 Chicago” footage featuring Yost delivering comments for a televised news report that covered the April 2007 theft of two laptops that stored 40,000 Chicago Public School teachers’ Social Security numbers. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who has been affected by the theft of a laptop computer, 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.

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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security Urges Holiday Shoppers to Beware of Malicious, Continually Growing Online Threats to Computer Security

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(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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security: Phone Scams a Concern for Consumers, Voters, and Even Businesses Themselves

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Nov. 19, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Last week reports indicated that John McCain’s campaign asked the New Hampshire attorney general to explore an alleged phone call scam related to the presidential primary there. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, said phone scammers target many demographics. According to Siciliano, consumers, banks, and others must beware of phone scams designed to extract sensitive financial information from those called or in other ways to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

“The phone is a form of communication fraught with susceptibilities to fraud and other less-than-scrupulous activities,” said Siciliano. “Consumers, voters, and even entire institutions and organizations must take steps to minimize their risk of getting duped by phone scammers.”

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. 16, the Associated Press reported that campaign officials for John McCain, the Republican Senator from Arizona running for president, had asked the New Hampshire attorney general to investigate what the article described as phone calls to voters from those who “[were pretending] to be polls but raise[d] questions about rival candidate Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith — and [were making] favorable statements about McCain.” The report went on to attribute these alleged calls (known as “push polling”) to a professional phone bank based in Utah.

“Never assume a supposedly official phone call indeed is,” said Siciliano. “No matter whom or what the caller professes to represent, the whole thing could be illegitimate.”

Siciliano said misleading phone calls can be a tool for fraudsters. Following are two of many phone scams that have taken place in November alone:

• On Nov 8, the Joliet, Ill.-based Herald News reported that residents in an area the publication covers had contacted police about phone calls that, evidently, were made by inmates of a nearby prison. The perpetrators allegedly encouraged those they called to dial a phone number that began with star (*) 72, the code that engages most phones’ call-forwarding feature. This gained the scammers access to the victims’ phones to make calls by proxy, incurring no charges themselves.

• “KTVZ News Channel 21” reported on Nov. 9 that phone scammers operating out of Iowa with an 888-number and purporting to be representatives of, alternately, Bank of the Cascades or U.S. Bank had called “hundreds if not thousands of Central Oregonians” in attempts to obtain the targets’ sensitive financial information. The scam, according to the report, prompted many to alert law enforcement authorities and the banks involved.

“Anyone who suspects that he or she has been the target of a phone scammer must watch for the possible consequences,” said Siciliano. “These include identity theft and fraud, not to mention the potential of being stalked. Report any strange phone activity to the authorities.”

Readers may view YouTube video below of Siciliano on “FOX News,” explaining how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves. Those wishing to learn how to protect themselves 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, 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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security Offers Nine Tips to Help Holiday Travelers Reduce Their Risk of Falling Prey to Crime

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Nov. 16, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) A number of reports have, as in years’ past, cited the sharp spike in travel expected over the holiday season, which is set to begin next week. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, offered advice for all travelers to follow, helping them to avoid falling prey to predators and other criminals while away from home.

“Criminals love it when we’re distracted,” said Robert Siciliano. “They’re best able to steal from us, or assault us, when we’re off guard, and travelers are often most likely to be so. Luckily, we can implement simple measures to reduce our risks.”

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, consumer protection, and personal security issues such as self-defense on numerous television outlets, including CNBC, on NBC’s “Today Show,” and FOX News.

On Nov. 14, CarJunky.com published an article on safe driving tips, and on the same day, the Monticello Herald Journal quoted law enforcement officials saying the day for Thanksgiving sees the most travel of the season. Siciliano shared nine tips designed to help holiday travelers stay safe during this time of year:

1. Securing your mobile computing equipment: Reports of laptop thefts have dominate the news. Those planning to bring work with them on their holiday travels should secure their mobile computing equipment with technology that guards and retrieves the data on these machines once in the hands of thieves. Once such product, MyLaptopGPS™, allows users, from a remote location, not only to retrieve and delete data from the lost machine, but also to track the device’s whereabouts with Internet-based GPS tracking.

2. Protecting your identity: It may seem old-fashioned, but consider paying with cash whenever possible; even better, try travelers’ checks. Plastic is susceptible to fraud. For instance, unscrupulous wait staff might use a wedge-type device to illegally swipe and capture patrons’ credit card information. A traveler should remember to be careful with credit cards and, also, to exercise caution when divulging a Social Security number. To learn more about identity theft, readers may watch video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

3. Understanding the fundamentals: Body language is 55 percent of communication. Strive to appear in control of yourself and your plans. Be alert to your surroundings. At all times, know what is going on 50 feet to 100 feet around the perimeter of your body. Voice tone and pitch equal 35 percent of communication. The way you communicate physically and verbally can determine whether a predator deems you a good target, so be confident and succinct.

4. Airport awareness: Airports are havens for criminals. Pay full attention to your belongings when airport security screens you. Fully cooperate with security personnel and be patient. Beware of strangers who are distracting or watching you.

5. Preventing abductions: Returning to a parked car, scan the area around it and watch for suspicious activity. Vans are telltale signs of foul play waiting to happen. Abductors and rapist will open the side door and pull their victims inside.

6. Pickpockets and thieves: Do not fight over material items. Carry currency in small amounts and denominations. Keep it in an easily accessible pocket. If someone tries to rob you, throw the “chump change” several feet away. This will distract the robber and give you time to escape.

7. Telephone basics: Protect your calling card number. Be wary of everyone around you as you enter this number. In airports, thieves could be videotaping a “going away” couple right behind you as you punch in your digits. The person standing at the phone next to you could be relaying your number to an accomplice.

8. Rental cars and transportation: Hide rental agreements, dead giveaways that you are traveling. Keep these off the dash. Don’t store valuables in the trunk, as many rental cars use a universal key to unlock everything. If you lose the ignition key, you may very well lose everything. Should you find yourself in a minor accident, stop only in a well-lit area. Carjackers provoke such “accidents” just to get travelers to stop. Do not stop on a deserted, dark street.

9. Staying at the hotel: Be suspicious of a call from the hotel desk just after check-in. The person on the other end of the phone may request verification of your credit card number “because the imprint was unreadable.” In reality, a thief may have watched you enter the hotel room and called from the guest phone in the lobby.

“On your way to visit family, make regular calls to loved ones and let them know where you are,” Siciliano concluded. “This ensures that they’ll have the most accurate idea possible of your whereabouts should a predator get the best of you.”

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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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security Points to Increasingly Brazen Laptop Thefts as Reason for Firms to Rethink Mobile Computer Security

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Nov. 12, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Reports over just the past two weeks underscored the ease and brazenness with which thieves can steal laptop computers. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, said the unrelenting pace of laptop computer theft is a symptom of poor security choices. According to Siciliano, smart organizations have yet more reason to rethink the measures they take to secure mobile computing devices. He pointed to MyLaptopGPS™.

“At least seventy thousand personal data files have possibly fallen into the hands of criminals as the result of laptop computers reported stolen in just the past two-week timeframe,” said Siciliano. “But laptop computer security is in fact an affordable, feasible proposition. Those who store their customers’, employees, and other constituents’ sensitive data on mobile computing devices owe it to these people to avail themselves of security technologies from companies such as MyLaptopGPS, which tracks stolen laptops with Internet-based GPS and allows users from remote locations to delete files on stolen 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 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.

The St. Petersburg Times reported on Oct. 28 that one man stole 150 laptops from various corporations’ offices in five states during the time period of 2002 through the spring of this year. Arrested in April, the “Khaki Bandit,” according to reports, gained access to office buildings by closely shadowing security personnel’s entry. Once inside, he allegedly stole the machines in plain sight of nearby workers.

Reports continued to indicate that laptop theft is rampant. The following laptop thefts, all reported during the past two weeks, put more than 70,000 people at risk of becoming victims of identity thieves and other financial fraudsters:

  • The Nov.8th edition of The Charlotte Observer reported the loss of a laptop computer belonging to the Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services. Names, addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers for about 28,000 who had received are at the healthcare facility were stored on the lost device, according to the article, which reported that Cabarrus County spent $17,676 just to print and mail letters of warning to those whose data may now be in the hands of criminals.
  • A Nov. 5th story in The Ticker, City University of New York’s campus newspaper, reported the theft from that learning institution of a laptop containing more than 23,000 financial aid–receiving students’ names and Social Security numbers. The article noted that the security of password protection varies widely.
  • On Oct. 30th, “WZZM 13 News” reported that up to 18,000 current and potential students of Big Rapids, Mich.–based Ferris State University were at risk of identity theft; a laptop computer stolen from an admissions recruiter’s car contained their names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, email addresses, academic information, and student identification numbers.
  • According to an Oct. 29th report from “KGMB9 News,” a laptop belonging to the U.S. Postal Service and stolen in August contained confidential data on nearly 3,000 postal employees in Oahu, Hawaii. The report indicated that authorities who waited to inform the affected employees did so because they hadn’t known of the file’s existence on the lost machine.

Organizations that need an affordable, simple solution for laptop security may turn to MyLaptopGPS™. The product 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.

MyLaptopGPS also offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers. A downloadable demo of MyLaptopGPS is available.

“Robust security for laptop computers makes good business sense,” said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. “Financial and other contingencies that arise from the theft of even just one laptop computer can be prohibitive. The cost alone of informing those possibly affected can reach into the thousands of dollars. MyLaptopGPS is the logical alternative.”

The October 2007 issue of Bank Fraud & IT Security Report, a newsletter published only in hard copy, ran “The Seven Layers of Laptop Security,” an article by Siciliano and Yost. A white paper adaptation of that article is available from MyLaptopGPS.

Readers may view YouTube video of “NBC 7 Chicago” footage featuring Yost delivering comments for a televised news report that covered the April 2007 theft of two laptops that stored 40,000 Chicago Public School teachers’ Social Security numbers. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who has been affected by the theft of a laptop computer, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

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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
  http://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
  http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security: Studies into Low-Tech and High-Tech Versions of the Crime Reveal that Data Online and Off-line Both at Risk

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Oct. 31, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Earlier this month, data from members of a U.K.-based fraud-prevention association showed that the incidence of financial fraud rose there in the third quarter of 2007. Much of the reported crime was of the low-tech variety. But elsewhere, research into heretofore-closed United States Secret Service cases suggested that identity theft stemming from low-tech crime is on the wane. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, said consumers worldwide must consider all their personal data, online and off-line, to be potential contraband for identity thieves.

“Any kind of data, in any form, must be handled properly by its owner,” said Siciliano. “Anything less invites the activity of identity thieves, who always seek the path of least resistance, whether that is in the physical world or the virtual one. Consumers and industry alike must consider all of their data to be susceptible.”

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.

According to an Oct. 26th news release, members of the industry association CIFAS, which bills itself as the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, reported a rise in most types of financial fraud over earlier quarters of this year, as well as compared to the same time period in 2006. CIFAS is a 270-member organization comprising those in banking, the credit card industry, asset finance, retail credit, mail order, insurance, investment management, telecommunications, factoring, and share dealing.

While member organizations saw a modest 1 percent decline in identity fraud, the incidence of a kind of identity fraud known as current address fraud rose by more than 50 percent. With current address fraud, the fraudster lives at the “current address” given on the fraudulent application, but only shares the property with the victim. The top-five false or stolen documents used for identity fraud during the period were, in descending order, non-U.K. passports, utility bills, bank statements, U.K. passports, photo card driving licenses.

In tandem, an Oct. 22nd news release from the Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP) announced the organization’s research into the nature of 517 previously sealed U.S. Secret Service cases on identity theft, all of which took place between 2000 and 2006. This first-ever study of such records yielded findings such as:

  • Organized criminal activity accounted for more than 40 percent of the crimes
  • Criminals in nearly half of the cases utilized the Internet or other technology
  • Only one-fifth of the other approximately 50 percent of cases resulted from low-tech techniques such as change of address or dumpster diving

“Here we see differences,” said Siciliano. “Whereas one study reveals that low-tech fraud is alive and well, another suggests that it’s a relatively small contributor to the incidence of identity theft and fraud. But, extrapolated to the millions of data records reported stolen in the past few years, even one-fifth of one-half of cases is a great deal. The fact f the matter is that this crime is both low-tech and high-tech. These criminals are hitting victims from all angles.”

Readers may view YouTube video of Siciliano on “FOX News,” explaining how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves who obtain information following data breaches. Those wishing to learn how to further protect themselves against identity theft, may view video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

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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, http://www.IDTheftSecurity.com; blog, http://robertsiciliano.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

Identity Theft Expert and Speaker on Personal Security Says Affordable and Simple Security Measures Make Consequences of Laptop Theft Unnecessary

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Oct. 26, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Reports from just one day this month indicated that high-profile mobile computer thefts led to the loss of personal data on nearly 175,000 individuals. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, said the frenetic pace of data loss at the hands of laptop computer thieves is inexcusable and unnecessary. He urged organizations of all kinds to use technology such as Internet-based GPS to track their fleets of laptop computers.

“Some of the information lost this month may represent a national security risk,” said Siciliano. “Yet we wouldn’t have to face these types of consequences of laptop computer theft if only organizations would adopt and implement simple, affordable technology designed to track, retrieve, and protect the data stored on lost mobile computers.”

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.

One day, Oct. 16, 2007, saw reports on laptop thefts that potentially exposed nearly 175,000 unique personal data records to thieves:

  • SC Magazine reported the theft of three laptop computers belonging to the Transportation Security Administration. Among those whose personal information was stored on the machines were commercial truck drivers who transport hazardous materials. Data included names, addresses, birthdays, commercial driver’s license numbers, and some Social Security numbers.
  • The Orlando-Sentinel reported the theft of a laptop computer from Administaff Inc., a temporary employment agency serving the Central Florida business community. According to the article, the company alerted 159,000 past and current workers that the loss might have compromised their personal data, which the machine had housed unencrypted.
  • TheBostonChannel.com reported that the theft in Massachusetts of a laptop computer belonging to Home Depot placed the personal data on 10,000 employees at risk.

But the day was no exception; laptop theft continues unabated. A Sept. 28th news release reported that the personal data for approximately 800,000 people who applied online or by phone for store positions at one of Gap Inc.’s brands between July 2006 and June 2007 had gone missing. Their data, according to the release, had been stored on a laptop stolen from the offices of a third-party vendor tasked with managing the job applications.

Organizations that need an affordable, simple solution for laptop security may turn to MyLaptopGPS™. The product 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.

MyLaptopGPS also offers SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers. A downloadable demo of MyLaptopGPS is available.

“The loss of a laptop computer to theft doesn’t have to spell doom for those whose personal data are stored on the lost device’s hard drive,” said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. “If only industry would use technology like MyLaptopGPS’s, such events would indeed be nonevents; from a remote location, officials would be able to safely retrieve and delete any sensitive information unbeknownst to the thief, and eventually recover the stolen machine.”

The October 2007 issue of Bank Fraud & IT Security Report, a newsletter published only in hard copy, ran “The Seven Layers of Laptop Security,” an article by Siciliano and Yost. A white paper adaptation of that article is available from MyLaptopGPS.

Readers may view YouTube video of “NBC 7 Chicago” footage featuring Yost delivering comments for a televised news report that covered the April 2007 theft of two laptops that stored 40,000 Chicago Public School teachers’ Social Security numbers. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who has been affected by the theft of a laptop computer, 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
  http://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
  http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

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