These words were famously said by Scott McNealy, the former CEO of Sun Microsystems. While this isn’t an excuse for not taking action to protect yourself, it is important to remember there are limits on anyone’s control. Our private data exists in thousands of different locations, and is bought and sold hundreds of times a year.

Unfortunately it’s also regularly lost by companies we trust hundreds of times a year as well. In 2009 alone there were over 100 million compromised records resulting from data breaches. And we, as consumers, hand out or leave our data exposed far too often.

For example, you might fill out a credit application to get a discount on a purchase at a local retailer. Sure, you might have every intention to cancel the card; but you’ve just handed over your personal identifying information to an anonymous sales clerk. In 2009 authorities found thousands of credit applications for a national chain of retail restores lying in the dumpster behind the store.

Additionally, if your spouse emails you at work to request your Social Security number to complete your tax return, you might email or text it back to him. While this may be convenient, what if your email or internet connection is compromised by a hacker? You Social Security number could end up in the wrong hands. This type of reckless behavior leads to millions of Americans falling victim to identity theft fraud every year.

But does that mean we should give up modern conveniences in order to keep our information safe? Absolutely not. Advances in technology have a profound effect on our lives.

Entrust IdentityGuard recently released a versatile authentication platform which is
compatible with many of the Windows operating systems including Vista, Windows
XP, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008. Entrust is a leading provider in identity
protection services for companies, consumers and online businesses. The new
security solution will provide access authentication for Windows desktops and
servers.

Entrust IdentityGuard allows businesses and corporations to secure access to
computers for the end user by providing authentication choices from the grid
card which has been patented by Entrust and one-time password tokens. The
authentication applies regardless if the end user is accessing the desktop while
connected to the network or using the PC offline.

With IdentityGuard businesses can provide security in layers which regulates
the type of access each user can have and according to a specific transaction.
IdentityGuard is compatible with many different types of applications and a diverse
organization of users.

The authentication process for IdentityGuard involves a username and password,
one-time passcode (OTP) which is delivered over SMS or email, a grid and grid eGrid
cards for two-factor authentication, IP geolocation which identifies the IP address
location, digital certificates for use in software and smart cards, and a wide variety
of one-time passcode tokens which also include a token for mobile devices. The
token for mobile devices works with the Entrust IdentityGuard Mobile which allows
businesses to verify their customers, business associates, and vendors through a
smartphone device.

For business security IdentityGuard provides hefty authentication for remote access
through a secure VPN (Virtual Private Network) which is provided by leading VPN
providers such as CheckPoint, Cisco, and Citrix. There is also an 802.1x for wireless
access security.

IdentityGuard provides multichannel support for phone, email, kiosk, SMS, and
onsite service if necessary. Businesses are protected when they deploy the
appropriate authenticator system for user groups which is customized according to
the level of associated risks, needs of the end user, and cost. IdentityGuard also
provides comprehensive security for consumers with a wide range of authentication
methods, security tokens, Entrust TransactionGuard, and the Entrust Open Fraud
Intelligence Network.

Police and prosecutors say 19 people were charged this week with enterprise corruption and grand larceny.

They say the ringleaders encouraged members to steal mail around Staten Island, and would also obtain Social Security Information and other details about victims around the country.

They would open credit cards and steal money from home equity line of credit accounts.

Some of the victims were soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Police say one soldier returned home at Christmas to find his bank account emptied. The money has been replaced.

On average, up to 10 million Americans a year deal with identity theft.

Identity theft is on the rise at alarming rates mostly due to the increased use of the Internet as a primary communications and commerce tool. There are many people who still do not have identity theft protection and are unsure how to obtain it. With the rise in identity theft there has been a surge of identity theft protection services popping up all over the Internet and some wonder whether or not they are worth the money.

If you are unsure of how an identity theft protection service works it may be one of the reasons why you are questioning whether or not it is worth the money. First, let’s gain an understanding of what an identity theft protection service is and some of the services it provides.

How an Identity Theft Protection Service Works

There are many reputable identity theft protection services that offer a host of protection services for a nominal monthly fee. Of course before you commit to one you should do your homework and read the reviews so you can make an informed decision. You can access an identity theft protection service online and some of the services are as little as $6.50 per month. Once you sign up you are provided with access to a dashboard in your account where you can track all of your activity. Here are a few things that an identity theft protection service offers:

• Security:

An identity theft protection service offers fraud alerts on your account so that anyone who tries to start a new line of credit on your account will not be able to do so because the fraud alert requires the credit lender to verify your approval before credit is granted. The fraud alert also provides fraud monitoring online to scan for criminals who are illegally using your personal information on the Internet.

• Credit Report Monitoring:

Most identity theft protection services will monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity and automatically provide you with a credit report from the major credit bureaus. Some services will request that your name be removed from pre-approved credit card mailing lists and offers.

• Identity Theft Resolution:

A reputable identity theft protection service will work to resolve any instance of identity theft and guarantee reimbursement of any monetary compensation you have lost in the process that is not covered by other sources.

• Recovery Assistance:

Recovery assistance services help you to reclaim your name and remove any activity on your credit report which was created by identity theft. Also, if you lose your wallet, the service will automatically cancel credit cards and any other personal financial information that you store in your wallet.

• Help and Support:

If you have any questions about your account or any problems, a reputable identity theft protection service will provide support around the clock or at reasonable hours where you can contact them at your convenience.

Is an Identity Theft Service Worth the Money?

Well, if you accept the fact that we live in an age where our most private information is beyond our control then having some form of protection makes complete sense. The days of our information locked in some file cabinet is long gone. Not only are your personal details digitized, but they are likely sold and copied a hundred times a day.

Why?

Convenience and Efficiency. Anytime you fill out a credit application or a job application, or even an health insurance application, somebody enters that application in a database. That information is stored, mined for marketing data, or even lost to hackers or disgruntled employees. Ever wonder how the credit reporting agencies like Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian make money? They make it by selling consumer data to other companies. Equifax made almost $500 million dollars selling consumer information in 2009. Despite companies taking precautions, 2009 was a record year for data breeches.

So with identity thieves becoming more sophisticated, it’s only common sense for consumers to begin taking action. Look at what happened this year in Los Angeles, tech savvy identity thieves used blue tooth technology to steal gas station customer’s credit card and ATM information including PINs by installing a wireless scanner in the pay terminals. (read the story here)

For pennies a day, you can have your private information scanned for fraud monthly including sex offender registries and county, state, and federal criminal databases. Get protected today.

Knowing you need identity theft protection is the easy part, deciding on the right service for you is far more difficult. We’ve compiled a list of seven questions you should ask about any service you’re seriously considering.

1. Does it monitor more than credit reports?

Since it’s easy to check your own
credit report and you can access it once a year for free, and because many types of
identity theft don’t show up in credit reports, credit monitoring alone is of limited
value. Consider services that scan other commercial databases, public records,
rogue Web sites that sell stolen credit cards and Social Security numbers, and
other places that may have your personal information and that aren’t as easy for
you to monitor yourself. Also check the options for receiving alerts; some
services only send alerts by email, others offer more alternatives.

• 2. Will it prevent you from getting your free annual reports when you wish?

Credit reports are often provided to customers as part of identity theft services.
But some companies obtain them by requesting the free reports that you are
entitled to get once a year, effectively preventing you from exercising your right
to ask for your free annual report when you want it.

• 3. How does the service help if you are a victim?

Most identity theft services only
provide advice about the steps you’ll need to take, but some take a more active
role to help resolve your problems. Depending on the terms of service, assistance
may be limited to identity theft that occurs, or is discovered, after you join. If it’s
unclear how the service will help you, continue to shop around.

• 4. Should you look for identity theft services that offer insurance?

Insurance
generally reimburses for lost wages if you must take time off from work without
pay to resolve an identity theft problem, long-distance calls, postage, notary fees
and other miscellaneous expenses. Money that an identity thief has stolen from
you is usually not covered. Since most identity theft victims have little or no
expenses, insurance is not an important factor in deciding which service to buy.

• 5. Does the guarantee really protect you?

No identity theft service can guarantee
that you won’t become an identity theft victim. Guarantees are promises about
what the service will do if you are victimized. They may provide for expense
reimbursement and/or assistance resolving your problem. Some only promise to
resolve problems resulting from a defect in the service. Read the guarantee
carefully; it may not provide as much protection as you expect.

• 6. What are the costs and terms?

Many identity theft services offer “free trials,”
during which you can test some of the features, but unless you have an identity
theft problem immediately, you can’t fully assess the service during the trial
period. Pay attention to the terms of the trial offer; usually consumers must cancel
before it ends to avoid charges. Some services charge month-to-month, others
require payment upfront for a year or offer pre-payment options that are less
expensive than paying month-to-month. Not all will provide a pro-rated refund if
you decide to cancel before the term you paid for is up, however. Read the terms
and conditions carefully to understand the cancellation policy.

• 7. Do They Offer Family Pricing?

Some services will offer substantial discount to cover a spouse or child while other services will one rate for an individual. If you’re the head of a household, it makes sense to search for policies that will cover a spouse or child. If your spouse or child becomes a victim of identity theft, it can very easily become your problem.

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