Most Security Awareness Training is Insufficient and Should Lead to Consequences

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Maybe company executives who don’t engage in real world security awareness training should suffer the consequences for their insufficiency. 

An excellent Help Net Security article is titled “What CISOs need to keep CEOs (and themselves) out of jail” discusses many of the fundamentals of cyber security, what security leaders should be doing, but aren’t doing, and so on. The article makes no mention of “security awareness training” but it does explicitly state “The overwhelming majority of major breaches and attacks involved human error.” Which, of course, could often be averted with security awareness training that enhances digital literacy.

This author and his team have reached out to thousands of CIO/CISO’s for city and town municipalities whose sole responsibility is to maintain the cities IT infrastructure and security. And often, when approached to assist in their security awareness training to enhance a change in behavior, the response is generally “We use a third-party company that provides phishing simulation training, we’re all set.” Frankly, that response sucks. What it says is that the CIO/CISO is providing the absolute bare minimum of training that facilitates whatever legal-compliance is required.

Interestingly, many of these municipalities use Proofpoint, who do fine job, but it’s not enough. Speaking of, a The Hacker News article titled “Proofpoint Email Routing Flaw Exploited to Send Millions of Spoofed Phishing Emails” further states “The cybersecurity company has given the campaign the name Echo Spoofing. The activity is believed to have commenced in January 2024, with the threat actor exploiting the loophole (at Proofpoint) to send as many as three million emails per day on average, a number that hit a peak of 14 million in early June as Proofpoint began to enact countermeasures.” OUCH.

Anyway, back to “but it’s not enough”. Phishing simulation training does one job, it is designed to change behavior in regards to preventing phishing. And while that may lead to compliance, it doesn’t actually solve various real-world security problems, nor does it significantly enhance digital literacy or fundamentally change people’s behavior regarding what security is and more importantly, what security isn’t. Most people have a false notion of what security is, where they think it revolves around paranoia, fear, worry, etc. and it doesn’t.

If compliance is all you, the CEO/CIO/CISO are going to do, maybe you SHOULD go to jail. Recent headlines “Boeing accepts a plea deal to avoid a criminal trial over 737 Max crashes, Justice Department says” point to everything Boeing DIDN’T DO to ensure safety. Really, what’s the difference between what Boeing didn’t do regarding compliance or providing the bare minimum of network security or compliance type security awareness training?

Data breaches, ransomware, network vulnerabilities, are becoming life and death scenarios. What happens when a hospital is hacked? What happens if traffic systems are hacked? What happens if GPS for airlines is hacked? What happens if the grid goes down for a significant period of time? The Justice Department/Boeing deal requires Boeing to invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs. The Justice Department is saying your basic compliance isn’t enough, and it cost people’s lives.

Hell, Ars Technica reports a North Korean hacker got hired by US security vendor KnowBe4, which provides security awareness training in the form of phishing simulation training, the hacker immediately loaded malware into the company’s network. Employees seemed to be fooled by a stolen ID. The hypocrisy is endless. KnowBe4 is one of the best in the world at what they do. But still, “The overwhelming majority of major breaches and attacks involved human error,” even inside top security awareness training firms. Humans are hackable because we trust by default. And none of these companies are providing the necessary real-world security awareness training that fundamentally changes people’s behavior.

Here’s the deal, and I’ve wrote about this before, and this is what I present in all of my trainings, and none of this is presented by any of the security awareness training firms; Security goes against our core beliefs. Security is not natural, it’s not normal, it means that we don’t trust others. However, we trust by default. Not trusting others is actually a learned behavior. Security means that you are aware that there are others out there that may choose you as their target. That’s not normal. It’s not natural. No-one wants to think they are a target.

What’s normal is that we live happily ever after, we live together as one species in harmony. We trust each other, we are good to each other, we treat others as we want to be treated. We don’t hit, hurt, harm or take from one another. We are civilized creatures.

However, there is a small percentage of predators, uncivilized beings, we call them sociopaths, psychopaths, and hard-core narcissists. They are the criminal hackers, the serial killers, the rapists. They are a minority, and we choose to think they don’t exist. Or at least we deny they would choose us. We resist security practices, because it goes against what it means to be a civilized being.

The complexity of cybersecurity topics can overwhelm employees and consumers, making them feel incapable of understanding or implementing the necessary precautions. I blame pretty much every cyber security awareness training company out there. It’s not all about phishing simulation training. None of these companies have a clue when it comes to teaching individuals about risk. It’s not “do this, don’t do that” they have forgot what it means to be human.

1. Denial. Some people may deny the importance of cybersecurity or believe that they won’t be targeted by cyber threats, leading them to dismiss training efforts. Denial is more natural and more normal than recognizing risk. Denial is comfortable, it’s soothing, and it allows us to avoid the anxiety of “it really can happen to me”

2. Fear of technology. Individuals who are not confident in their technological abilities may feel intimidated by cybersecurity training, leading them to avoid it altogether. This, of course makes total sense. How many times have you gone in a vicious circle, a constant loop of not being able to log into an account because of two factor authentication not working or something else out of whack? Technology can be frustrating. If security is not easy, people aren’t going to do it.

3. Lack of awareness. Some consumers may simply not be aware of the risks posed by cyber threats, leading them to underestimate the importance of cybersecurity training. This is a real problem. This lack of attention to what your options are regarding anything security is common. Part of that lack of awareness stems from disbelief these things can happen to us, denial we can be targeted, and a relative “pacifist” attitude.

Addressing these barriers requires organizations to tailor their cybersecurity awareness training programs to be engaging, relevant, and accessible to all employees and consumers. This can involve using clear language, providing real-life examples, and offering support for individuals who may struggle with technology or cybersecurity concepts. It also means getting “real”. And cyber security awareness training companies aren’t going to do that, nor are their 2-dimensional employees, and most of them don’t have the ability to get down and dirty and speak “holistically” about life and security in the same sentence.

And if the CIO, CEO, CISO or in my case, the Mayor or town administrator, who oversees the budget of their CIO, CISO doesn’t think this kind of security awareness training is necessary, maybe they should go to jail too.

ROBERT SICILIANO CSP, is a #1 Best Selling Amazon author, and the architect of the CSI Protection certification; a Cyber Social and Identity and Personal Protection security awareness training program.

Bank Robberies Spike, Blame The Economy?

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Robert Siciliano

Often I’m called to provide perspective on breaking news as it relates to personal security, violence and fraud. Tonight it was bank robbery. In Boston a white male suspect in his 20’s has robbed at least 4 banks since Feb. 3rd and two of those were done today within a few miles of each other.

In the first, he went up to a teller who was in training, startled, she said she did not have any money in the drawer and he left the bank without trying. Obviously he did not have an alternative plan.

Each time he has passed a note demanding money and implies a weapon, but no weapon is shown.

The local police department talked to the media about how more and more suspects are desperate because of the economy and not experienced bank robbers. They also said that a lot of them don’t care about the survelliance cameras or the jail time that they might face if caught. The FBI and local police departments are investigating these robberies.

In New York City Bank robberies have risen 54 percent compared with last year, with criminals committing more than 430 in the past year, according to the NYPD.

New Yorks Police commissioner was quoted saying “They’ve turned banks into cash machines”

Numerous studies certainly show crimes tends to rise when times are tough. Right now its pretty tough and getting uglier for many. But rob a bank? I know plenty of people who have hit hard times. I can’t think of one who had the epiphany “Today I’ll rob a bank”.

I saw a story recently about a guy who walked out of a grocery store and stole a full a cart of food to feed his family and was caught. He was quoted saying “it was worth the risk to feed my family”.

Illegal, wrong, understandable.

What’s more likely is people who are robbing banks have committed crimes before. Bank robbery is a desperate and aggressive act. Chances are this individual is like most, suffering from addiction, heroin, Oxy-contin, and is desperate for his next hit. People who rob banks have an equal amount of desperation and stupidity as they do huge balls.

Banks Robbers aren’t Robert De Niro in Heat or Jim Carey in Dick and Jane

I think it’s safe to say that while the economy may have people all jittery, you won’t see many executives from failed investment firms who were laid off go and rob a bank. This person hasn’t robbed four banks to pay his cable bill. He’s a mess.

These arent well thought out, rational, previously employed people. These are people who have been involved in criminal acts their whole lives and this is the next step for them.

I would gather that someone is doing a study somewhere and will conclude that in-fact there is a spike in robberies during hard times. We see the same thing around the holidays. People are emotional, they feel pressure and go a bit nutty.

Why not every bank on earth is equipped with an access control vestibule so criminals are prevented from entering with guns or trapped like this idiot

Robert Siciliano discussing bank robbers motivations Here

Identity Theft Protection Expert and One You Security: Year-Over-Year Spike in Data Breaches Will Prompt Consumers to Protect Their Own Financial Identities

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(SARASOTA, Fla. – July 23, 2008 – One You Security) The first half of 2008 saw a more than two-thirds year-over-year increase in the number of data breaches, revealed research reported last week. More than ever, consumers need a way to protect themselves as more of their Social Security numbers seem to go missing with every new breach of data, according to Robert Siciliano, widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security, LLC. The key, he said, is One You Security’s service, which helps to render these universal identifiers useless to the thieves who would otherwise use them to steal consumers’ financial identities.

"Smart consumers notice the data breaches," said Siciliano. "They also realize that every security breach runs the risk of leaking data likely to include Social Security numbers, maybe even theirs. And until the infrastructure in place for identifying people fundamentally changes, these smart consumers will clamor for ways to protect their financial identities themselves. With its capacity to strip thieves of the ability to use Social Security numbers as a way to obtain financial identities, One You’s service provides the very solution these consumers seek."

Subscribers to One You Security receive newsletters and special alerts from Siciliano. Through these, they get the latest data on 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.

Between Jan. 1 and June 27 of 2008, the number of data breaches recorded by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) was 342, the nonprofit organization reported in a June 27th statement, which noted that this was more than 69 percent greater than the same time period in 2007.

Spikes in the business sector fueled the overall increase despite significant decreases in others, revealed the ITRC’s data, which also provided numbers for 2006. Whereas the ITRC found that data breaches were down since 2006 in the educational sector by 24 percent and in the government and military sector by 43 percent, data breaches jumped over the past two years by 75 percent in the business sector. Furthermore, since 2006 the number of data breaches has increased in the health and medical sector by 15 percent and in the banking, financial and credit sector by 25 percent.

"Given the entire identification system’s reliance on Social Security numbers," said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security, "the most practical approach by far is to make those digits functionally useless to the thieves who obtain them. For a long time, the frequency of data breaches has left consumers in need of a quickly implementable solution that allows them to protect their financial identities. As much as a seventy-five percent increase in the number of data breaches over the past couple years only intensifies that need, which One You meets."

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 Newschannel,” 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

Identity Theft Protection Expert and One You Security: Mortgage Fraud Crackdown Underscores the Susceptibility of Consumers’ Financial Identities to Theft

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(SARASOTA, Fla. – June 24, 2008 – One You Security) Law enforcement activities surrounding mortgage fraud across the U.S. have resulted in the arrest of thousands, according to reports. The utility of Social Security numbers as means to obtain credit fuels the pervasiveness of mortgage fraud, said Robert Siciliano, widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security, LLC, a firm that provides identity theft prevention education and strives to render subscribers’ Social Security numbers useless to thieves.

“Some of the most devastating instances of mortgage fraud involve identity theft,” said Siciliano. “Consumers not only have to be leery of questionable mortgage lenders, but also of others who might buy a home in their name. The usefulness of the Social Security number to identity thieves who aspire to attain the big payoff in mortgage fraud compounds this problem. But citizens are encouraged when they can take proactive action to make Social Security numbers useless to thieves.”

Chief security analyst for One You Security 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 prevention speaker, he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s “Today Show,” FOX News Network, and elsewhere.

Operation Malicious Mortgage, an effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to curb mortgage fraud in the U.S., has resulted in more than 1,400 arrests since March of this year, according to a report dated June 23 in the U.K. financial website thisisyourmoney.co.uk. Following are recent U.S. arrests related to mortgage fraud:

  • Federal officials announced the mortgage fraud-related arrests of 67 people in the Chicago, Ill. area, a June 19thAssociated Press report in Crain’s Chicago Business revealed. Prosecutors alleged that some of the defendants were responsible for identity theft that helped in the obtaining more than $3 million in fraudulent home loans.
  • Mortgage fraud that allegedly resulted in a loss of more than $50 million in Michigan municipalities led federal authorities to charge 28 people there with related crimes, reported the Detroit Free Press on June 19.

Data from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has revealed that instances of suspected mortgage fraud have risen by 1,000 percent over the past six to seven years, reported the article in thisisyourmoney.co.uk, which went on to say the FBI’s financial crimes section has seen an 800 percent increase in its case load since 2003.

“The apparent spike in mortgage fraud reveals one more line of attack that thieves exploit to hijack the financial identities of consumers,” said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. “Those lines of attack that expose law abiders’ financial identities to the unscrupulous activities of criminals are in fact too many for consumers to track on their own. They need the assistance of an organization dedicated to protecting their financial identities and to feeding their knowledge of identity theft protection and prevention.”

Consumers who choose One You Security do so in part because the company does everything it can to help transform their Social Security numbers into something useless to thieves. They also subscribe so that they may receive identity theft education material such as newsletters and special alerts from Siciliano, designed to inform them of the latest data breaches and to help them avoid financial identity scams of all kinds, including mortgage fraud. The firm backs its offerings with a 100 percent service guarantee.

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how thieves were able to crack the computers of Hannaford Bros., a grocery chain that operates 165 stores in the Northeast, to obtain the credit card and debit card numbers of millions of customers. 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

Identity Theft Protection Expert from One You Security Provides Subscribers with the Latest Consumer Education on How to Protect Their Identities

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(SARASOTA, Fla. – June 10, 2008 – One You Security) The onslaught of breaches pummeling consumers’ identities has necessitated a diversified approach to identity theft protection, said the president and CEO of One You Security, LLC. The company therefore decided not only to help consumers make their Social Security numbers useless to thieves, but also to provide them with the latest in consumer education on the matter from the firm’s chief security analyst, Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert.

“Financial identities are under siege from all sides,” said Siciliano. “The dangers arise so quickly, that even the most vigilant among consumers need guidance to remain abreast of their financial identities’ many vulnerabilities. This only happens through ongoing, continually reinforcing identity theft education.”

Chief security analyst for One You Security 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, he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC’s “Today Show,” FOX News Network, and elsewhere.

According to a May 19th report by the Associated Press, 38 individuals faced charges from authorities in Los Angeles, Calif., and New Haven, Conn., that they had stolen names, Social Security numbers, credit card data and other personal information from Internet users. Their members’ outposts stretched from Romania to the United States, Canada, Portugal and Pakistan, the article alleged.

“Organized crime rings work in concert to steal identities,” said Siciliano. “There’s big money to be had in identity theft, and savvy criminals who operate globally through their vast, organized networks understand this. The scenario seems daunting to consumers who just want to protect their information from the unscrupulous. Fortunately, with just a little bit of help, consumers can learn how to make their personal information increasingly impervious to thieves’ intrusions.”

Subscribers to One You Security benefit from identity theft education material such as newsletters and special alerts (including video) from Siciliano himself, who makes defining identity theft as a systematic flaw and providing a simple yet comprehensive solution to his goals. Siciliano’s alerts are designed to help consumers avoid scams and practices that make the identity thief’s job easy and to inform them of the latest data breaches. The firm backs all its offerings with a 100 percent service guarantee.

“One You’s service strives to render the subscriber’s Social Security number useless to thieves,” said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. “An integral part of this is in One You’s activation and management of subscribers’ fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus. But perhaps an even larger piece of the puzzle is the consumer education that One You provides with Robert Siciliano, whose experience in presenting workshops on identity theft prevention to audiences at Fortune 500 firms uniquely qualifies him to be a personal sherpa on identity theft protection to each and every One You subscriber.”

“Those who subscribe to One You’s service get automatically plugged into my personal e-mail network to receive regular alerts on identity theft prevention,” Siciliano added. “Each alert is a resource that helps consumers learn how to block the many points of entry available to thieves trying to gain law-abiding citizens’ identities. The idea is to help One You’s subscribers stay on top of what is new in identity theft prevention and ahead of what is next.”

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how thieves were able to crack the computers of Hannaford Bros., a grocery chain that operates 165 stores in the Northeast, to obtain the credit card and debit card numbers millions of millions of customers. Video of Siciliano at VideoJug features him 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

Identity Theft Expert and MyLaptopGPS: Organizations Averse to Implementing Proactive Security Measures Need Affordable Laptop Tracking Technology

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(BOSTON, Mass. – May 29, 2008 – IDTheftSecurity.com) News reported in April reinforced the notion that companies across most industries are failing to proactively implement measures for mobile computing security and data security. But smart organizations understand that they stand a much better chance of retaining their hard-earned profits if they invest in preventative security technology rather than react to breaches and thefts after they happen, said Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert. He pointed to an affordable laptop tracking product from MyLaptopGPS as an example.

“If the goal of business is to maximize the generation and retention of profits,” said Siciliano, “the business case for laptop security is clear. For any organization, dealing with a laptop theft after it happens will cost money — lots of it. The far preferable approach is to incorporate far less expensive security technologies proactively to prevent laptop thefts and the data breaches that commonly follow.”

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, on NBC’s “Today Show,” FOX Newschannel, and elsewhere.

In 2002, a Computer Security Institute/FBI Computer Crime & Security Survey calculated the actual financial loss of a laptop theft to be $89,000. A 2003 Annual Computer Crime and Security Survey placed the average loss even higher, at $250,000. These numbers reflect a combination of factors such as legal follow-up and identity theft, either of which can lead to financial catastrophe.

Yet, as recently as the third quarter of 2007, only one-quarter of businesses “employ[ed] some kind of data leak prevention system,” according to an April 3rd article in CNNMoney.com that cites data from Forrester Research, which polled a representative sample of organizations based mostly in North America and Europe. This includes ill-preparedness for laptop theft, notes the article, which further cites Forrester’s research: “Far more than half of companies polled…[have]…no specific plan to adopt technology for data loss prevention,” CNNMoney.com reported.

“Not a week goes by without a laptop theft affecting a business, government agency, nonprofit outfit or educational institution,” 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. “Any organization that’s felt the aftereffects of a breach of laptop security probably wishes it had invested in preventative measures beforehand. With the price of inaction dwarfing the cost of prevention, the choice to proactively protect data and the computing equipment storing it is clear.”

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.

“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.

At its website, MyLaptopGPS also keeps a running tally of publicized laptop and desktop computer theft and losses. The Realtime Estimated Damage Index (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 29, the REDI had recorded a greater than 70 percent increase in cost since its launch in February of 2008.

The YouTube video below shows Siciliano on “FOX Newschannel,” where he discusses this year’s 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

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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.” 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

CEO “Identity Theft Expert”?? ID compromised 90 times

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The press has recently taken issue with CEO of an identity theft prevention company who has given his SSN out for all the world to see. His identity theft protection service is designed to protect the consumer from identity theft.

Because he used the marketing gimmick to drive sales, it has resulted in a never ending battle where identity thieves and others are using his ID to prove a point, that giving out your SSN is never a good idea.

His identity was compromised financially early on and since has been compromised REPORTED 87-90 TIMES.

It is impossible not to give your SSN in a society that needs it for most accounts, insurances etc. Plastering it on a billboard is a great idea when you dont care if your identity is stolen in order to sell a product.

However for the rest of us I’d not recommend it.

The idea is to make the SSN useless by investing in a service that keeps you in-tune, on top of, what is happening regarding your identity by wrapping a security system around your identity.

Stay tuned. Updates on this issue to come.

Identity Theft Protection Expert and MyLaptopGPS: Computer Thefts Affect College Students and Highlight Need for Better Laptop Security

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(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.

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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 MyLaptopGPS: SafeTags™; and SafeRegistry™ Might Have Prevented Recently Reported Laptop Losses from Government Agencies

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(BOSTON, Mass. – April 17, 2008 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Late last month, reports revealed the loss of laptop computers from various U.S. and U.K. government agencies over years of time. Any organization with a sprawling inventory of mobile computing equipment must secure the gear with high-tech, said Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert. He pointed leaders in business and elsewhere to MyLaptopGPS™, whose technology not only tracks and retrieves stolen laptops, but also provides organizations with SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying fleets of computers, and affixes to each of them SafeTags™, police-traceable property tags.

“Laptop computers go missing all the time,” said Siciliano. “For large organizations, the losses can occur en masse or slowly, over time. Because of this, any organization must secure its fleets of mobile electronics with technology designed to prevent laptop loss and to minimize the fallout if those losses and thefts nevertheless occur.”

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 reports in late March indicated that government agencies in both the U.S. and the U.K. discovered the loss of entire fleets’ worth of laptop computers and other mobile electronics from their inventories:

  • Hundreds of laptop computers, mobile phones, and other portable electronics are missing from various government agencies in the U.K., including the nation’s Ministry of Defence, announced a March 30th news release that extensively quoted an SNP Westminster Consumer Affairs spokesperson on the matter. The items included “591 laptops, 416 phones, and 642 other pieces of computer equipment (such as discs and chips),” reported the Scotsman News the same day.
  • Over the past five years, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has lost 230 laptop computers reported The Washington Times on March 29th. For the vast majority of the missing machines, it was unclear to DEA, according to the report, how the equipment had gone missing and whether the computers’ hard drives contained sensitive data.

“The consequences of so many lost computers and data-storing electronics are far-reaching and potentially catastrophic,” said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. “Sensitive phone numbers, unique computer data records and other untold bits of private information, all the familiar casualties of the theft and loss of mobile electronics, can help thieves commit wide-scale fraud and steal identities. But simple and affordable safeguards can easily prevent these scenarios altogether.”

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.

Along with this, MyLaptopGPS also 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.

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 April 16, that tally was 227, and cost associated with it $344,788,505, an amount suggesting that the year-over-year increase in the financial consequence of laptop thefts will exceed 100 percent.

According to USA Today, theft of personal data more than tripled in 2007. Readers may view a 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.

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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: Frequency of Data Breaches to Increase before it Subsides

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(BOSTON, Mass. – Jan. 17, 2007 – IDTheftSecurity.com) The number of data records left unprotected last year because of security breaches was three times the number for 2006, reports have indicated. Additionally, some technology-intensive firms believe themselves to be less than ready for security threats in 2008, new research revealed. According to Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, the frequency of data breaches will increase before it subsides.

"Organizations are caught in the cliché of a vicious circle," said Siciliano. "They have yet to learn the lesson that data breaches can happen to anyone. And until they do suddenly find themselves among the abstract ‘everyone’ because of a data breach, the majority of them will adopt an ‘it-can’t-happen-to-us’ attitude, which will of course lead to more data breaches."

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.

Some industries have indeed grasped the enormity of the threat, yet still find themselves behind in preparedness despite their increased efforts to invest in security systems, a Jan. 10th news release from Deloitte on its latest research. The majority of technology, media & telecommunications (TMT) businesses, according to the announcement, "find themselves ‘treading water’…when it comes to security and privacy."

"The pace at which new security threats surface can be unnerving," said Siciliano. "It is not surprising to learn that some industries find themselves behind the curve even as they spend more and more money to solve the problem. But what they need to learn is that security investments are not one-time events; security must become a perennial activity with an annual budget and hired staff to carry out objectives."

Other reports suggested that TMTs’ concerns were justified. Last year saw more than a tripling of data records falling prey to security breaches despite a decrease in the number of breaches, a Jan. 11th article on the CNET News blog reported—from 50 million records exposed in 2006 to 162 million in 2007.

Readers may view YouTube video below of Siciliano on "FOX News," explaining how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves who get a hold of loose data records. 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