Monthly Archives: January 2011

ID theft trends predicted to increase this year

January 31, 2011 – 8:44 am

If you had a magic 8-Ball when you were a kid, you could ask it anything and you’d get such answers as, “It is certain,” “Most likely,” “Signs point to yes,” and “My sources say no.”
As children, somehow we believed those answers. We thought that magically, that 8-Ball knew just the right answer we wanted [...]

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Facebook adding encryption to protect user info

January 28, 2011 – 9:14 am

The most common concern expressed by Facebook users has to do with security – Facebook users everywhere ask the same question: Is my Facebook profile and the information it contains safe?
In recent months, a new application called Firesheep – an add-on for the browser Firefox that provides an easy way for non-hackers to access others’ [...]

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Bill proposal could pave the way for consumer restitution in ID theft cases

January 26, 2011 – 10:11 am

A bill that would give identity theft victims financial restitution was introduced last week by a Maryland legislator.
Sen. Delores Kelley said the bill will put a spotlight on “the fastest growing crime there is.”
If the bill becomes law, once a defendant is found guilty of identity theft, prosecutors could recommend to the judge or [...]

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LifeLock can help business fight data breaches

January 24, 2011 – 8:15 am

The headlines have been filled in the past year with thousands of data breaches – from universities to hospitals to private companies. There are many more that occur and don’t get reported. And for each breach, there are thousands of people who are affected, and who could become victims of identity theft.
Hackers are getting more [...]

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LifeLock offers Credit Score Manager

January 21, 2011 – 9:27 am

Picture this: your car is about 8 years old now, and there’s been lots of trouble lately with the engine. So you decide to take the plunge and buy a new one. You look around at all the dealerships in town, and you finally find “the one.” It’s gorgeous…it’s the right color, has all the [...]

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Child targeted by ID thief twice

January 19, 2011 – 8:31 am

A 6-year-old boy in Wisconsin was recently targeted by a woman for identity theft – and the boy’s mother wasn’t surprised.
Investigators in the case say the boy’s Social Security information was used recently to take out a $16,000 loan for a new car. But it wasn’t the first time his information had been used to [...]

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Pentagon credit union laptop hacked

January 18, 2011 – 10:04 am

A laptop at a military personnel credit union has been hacked, putting active-duty service men and women, as well as other connected to the Pentagon, at risk for identity theft.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union, based in Alexandria, Va., sent a letter to its customers earlier this month alerting them to the security breach. A specific number [...]

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Social network site makes home, cell phone info available

January 17, 2011 – 9:40 am

According to several Web sites and news agencies, Facebook has now made it possible for apps to read your home address and mobile telephone number.
In the “Request for Permission” window, which is the one you have to accept before using an app on the Facebook platform, you’ll see “Access my contact information,” with the [...]

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Gamers hack server at medical firm

January 14, 2011 – 9:07 am

Gamers who hacked a server to play Call of Duty: Black Ops have caused a medical firm to warm patients of the threat of identity theft.
Seacoast Radiology, based in New Hampshire warned its clientele after its server was hacked and an “unseen vulnerability” was exploited, allowing possible access to a server containing sensitive personal information. [...]

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The risk of ID theft never goes away

January 13, 2011 – 9:06 am

An Olympia man may have planned the identity theft of 1,000 people and been part of the largest identity theft ring in the history of Thurston County, Wash.
Anthony Vaughn is being held in the county jail on 50 counts of identity theft. Court documents state that Vaughn admitted to detectives he performed the criminal acts [...]

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