Identity Theft

Cyber Protection on Cyber Monday Isn't Enough

While Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day of the year, it is also a time when consumers can be careless and open themselves up to the risk of identity theft. This online shopping bonanza marks the start of the holiday season, and IdentityHawk wants to remind consumers to take precautions to protect their identities online and offline.

According to Jeff Paradise, executive director of IdentityHawk, "Cyber Monday kicks off the holiday shopping season and the season of being extra vigilant with online identity protection. Identity fraud can be detected online, but it doesn't necessarily start there."

Results from the 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research indicate that of all identity theft victims, 40% had their information misused while making an online purchase, compared to 13% for purchases made over the phone or through the mail.

"Consumers need to be aware that personal information is compromised in a wide variety of ways – ranging from stolen wallets, mail theft, purchases and financial transactions to computer hacking and large scale data base breaches," explained Karen Barney, director of programs for the Identity Theft Resource Center. "During the holidays it is important to remember to be especially vigilant in safeguarding your personal information."

In light of Cyber Monday and the start of the holiday shopping season, IdentityHawk provides the following protection tips for staying safe both online and offline. Read more

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Smart Security: BYOD Is Neat But Tough On Your Company IT Folks

"That's the second biggest... I've ever seen." – Maxwell Smart, "Get Smart," Talent Assoc., (1965 – 1970)

Anonymous and LulzSec made themselves infamous by hacking highly visible organizations.

They thought it was cool to disclose information from private/protected databases. They outed millions of people's very personal/private data, making them prime identity theft targets.

You know, the really bad guys (and gals) who make their living tapping into and "borrowing" your information to supplement their income.

For most folks, they were simply huge pains in the behind. But for a few… huge financial problems.

Of course, they got bolder and bolder and took their attacks to government data sites around the globe. In the U.S., the FBI, NSA, DOD; in the U.K., Scotland Yard, Defence Ministry, Parliament; in Germany the Federal Network Agency, Chancellery, Cabinet; in Russia the ministries of defense, justice, internal affairs.

You get the picture…all of 'em.Read more

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Harry Potter Movie Fans Should Watch Out for Cybercriminals

by jessica on Sat, 2010-11-13 05:00

The November 19th release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is set to be one of the biggest films of the year in a dramatic end to one of Hollywood's largest franchises, but security software company PC Tools warns fans – be careful when you search.

Cybercriminals are targeting unsuspecting fans for identity fraud and spam with websites popping up in online searches promising to offer a free download of the movie, and fake users of the sites are posting attractive blog comments like "Me and my wife watched this movie here. This movie is great =)"

Here's how the scam works:

First, a user searches for previews and other release information for Harry Potter online
Results claiming to offer a free download of the new movie appear
Users are directed to complete "offers" asking them to give away personal information or download a potentially malicious toolbar that may collect personal IDs and passwords.
Here, users are asked to fill in personal details and are informed they may also be able to win an iPad
Once personal details are entered and the registration is activated, users are then asked to enter a survey, after which the web page remains stuck in a "checking for completion" phase

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Callpod Keeper Keeps Your Passwords Safe

by jessica on Fri, 2009-05-15 00:30

Callpod, a company known mostly for their mobile accessories, just announced Keeper Desktop, a new software application for computers.

Keeper lets you store all of your passwords, account numbers, website logins, notes, lists and other business (or personal) information on your computer and protects it with military-grade encryption. Keeper Desktop can also securely and wirelessly sync the encrypted data with your mobile device over a Wi-Fi network. If your computer is lost or stolen, the information stored in Keeper is remains secure.

A nice feature Keeper has is a "self-destruct" mode which erases all data after five incorrect attempts to break into the database. But don't worry…this feature also lets you retrieve and restore an encrypted version of the data.

Callpod also offers Keeper Mobile for Smartphones which is currently the most frequently downloaded password data vault storage system on the iPhone and is consistently the top 5 most downloaded business software app on iTunes. Keeper Mobile is available for only $.99.

Keeper Desktop is available for the Mac and PC with a 15-day free trial, or the full version can be purchased for $14.95, both the Desktop and Mobile versions can be downloaded at www.callpod.com/products/keeper.

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft with New Shredder

by jessica on Tue, 2009-04-07 11:49

Tax time is here and one thing that should be on everyone's mind is identity theft. As if taxes aren't bad enough, all you need is someone getting their hands on your financial records, social security number and other confidential information. Aleratec has introduced a new DVD CD Shredder Plus DS2 to help prevent unauthorized use of personal information, either on paper or DVDs/CDs.

The shredder sports a powerful motor and cutters that can shred up to 6 sheets of paper at once to Security Level 4 and cut BDs, DVDs, CDs and credit cards into strips, making them completely useless. And at only $149, the Aleratec DVD CD Shredder Plus DS2 is a bargain….especially considering how much identity theft could cost you in the long run.

Find out more info at www.aleratec.com.

Tax Time Tips from Identity Theft Expert

Tax time season is prime time for identity theft to occur. The documents taxpayers send and receive this time of year contain all the information identity thieves look for: your name, address, bank and financial account information, and most importantly, your Social Security Number.

To help combat this problem, identity theft expert Robert Siciliano is teaming up with uni-ball pens and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), to provide helpful tips to safeguard identities during the 2009 tax season. Read more