As a follow up to this report, the CFA recently released another report in March 2011 called Best Practices for Identity Theft Services which spurred a collaborative effort between the CFA, identity theft service providers, and consumer advocates to organize a “to-do” list for the identity theft protection industry.

The Consumer Federation of America emphasizes that identity theft protection service providers must improve on the methods they use for explaining how their programs work. The CFA determined that there could be more clarity provided in this area in addition to better explanations of privacy policies, insurance, disclosures, and more accurate information on what is covered. Here is what the collaborative effort came up with as a result:

Understand What You Are Purchasing

To ensure you are getting your money’s worth it is best to decide between a proactive service and a reactive identity theft protection service. The difference is that a proactive service will take the actions necessary to protect your identity before it is stolen by scanning black market sites for your personal information, monitoring your credit, and providing notification when something suspicious occurs. This type of service almost always provides remediation services that will work with you to get your life back on track. A reactive service will notify you only after your identity has been compromised or stolen.

Evaluating an ID Theft Protection Service

As a result of the collaborative project with ID theft services, consumer advocates, and the CFA, the following questions should be asked when you are researching identity theft services.

1. How is the service beneficial if you become a victim and exactly how do they help you? Instead of simply providing you with advice the ID theft service should take a proactive approach in helping you restore your identity. If the company does not make their services clear, then move on to the next service.

2. What does the service monitor besides credit reports? It is best to choose a service that scans a myriad of databases instead of simply monitoring your credit report. The proactive companies will scan databases that otherwise might be difficult to access.

3. Should you use an ID theft service that offers insurance? Most of the insurance policies offered by ID theft services will replace the wages that you lose if you must take unpaid time off from employment to resolve the ID theft problem as well as a few other miscellaneous expenses. In most cases, monetary funds that are stolen as the result of identity theft are not covered. For this reason, you should ask a lot of questions if the company offers insurance.

4. Will using an ID theft service prevent you from getting your own free credit report? In most cases, the identity theft protection service requests a free credit report from each credit reporting agency. This can prevent you from getting the one free credit report you are entitled to on an annual basis.

5. Does the guarantee work in your best interests? It is very difficult to provide a 100 percent guarantee that you will not be a victim of identity theft. This is why you should read every word of the guarantee because it may not provide as much protection as it claims.

6. How much does it cost and what are the terms? When you research ID theft services you will find that some offer a monthly plan while others want a full year of payment upfront. Also, investigate the policy if you decide to cancel to ensure you can get the money refunded to you for the unused service time.

Finally, take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and understand that there is no such thing as foolproof ID protection however; you can reduce the chances of identity theft by helping yourself through taking precautions and choosing the right ID theft service.

You’ve just been sent an email that contains a confirm link.

The email will have a subject header that contains [IDPG] and will look something like this:

In order to activate your subscription and receive your FREE report, check your email and click on the link in that email. You will not receive your ebook until you click that link to activate it.

If you don’t see that email in your inbox shortly, fill out the form again to have another copy of it sent to you.

You’re all set! Thanks for signing up for free email updates!

To download your free 29-page report, click the button below:

Download the Truth About Preventing Identity Theft now!

Also, since you subscribed for free email updates, you’ll receive all of our helpful, valuable blog articles that get published on our Identity Protection Blog.

All the best!

John, Greg, & Brandon
IDProtectionGuide.net

Some of the threat predictions that were recently mentioned include:

Mobile Apps

The increased use of mobile devices both for personal use and use in the workplace has influenced predictions that these devices will be targeted by hackers for identity theft and IT security breaches mostly due to the present weaknesses in the programming of mobile apps. Since mobile apps are a fairly new commodity they frequently contain vulnerabilities in the coding that hackers can exploit for use with a botnet, theft of confidential information and malware attacks.

Mobile Devices

The rise of the mobile workplace means an increased use of mobile devices by company employees. This opens up a new security concern for companies and businesses with regard to IT security threats, theft of critical company data, and personal identity theft.

Signed Malware That Appears Legitimate

Another prediction states, the programmers of malware will become more sophisticated and be capable of creating malicious software that imitates legitimate files on PCs and mobile devices. This will make it easier for cyber criminals to create fake keys from stolen ones and access critical data for the purpose of identity theft and theft of crucial data from companies and government agencies.

Botnets

In the past and still in the present for that matter, botnets have been created by organized criminals for the purpose of data and identity theft among other criminal acts. The criminals target specific computers on a network which are then turned into “zombie” computers that take commands from the botnet creator or “bot herder.” Company PCs as well as personal PCs are taken over to perform criminal acts without the user’s knowledge. Predictions for 2011 point to the fact that botnets will become more sophisticated and engage in advanced gathering of data through social networks.

Social Media

The increased use of social media as a tool for communication will replace email as the chief executor of malicious software and the main avenue for identity theft. Predictions also show that services that help you locate the mobile device users will contribute to the problem, as well as social media tools such as shortened URL services and other social media applications.

These are a few of the threats that you should be on the lookout for with regard to identity theft and IT security in 2011. Additionally, if you are an iPad or iPhone user you should be on guard for malicious codes which have not been a problem in the past with Apple, however the popularity of Apple mobile devices has significantly changed this climate.

For more ways to protect yourself, read our identity theft reviews.

On the first of October, Julie Burkhart-Haid of New York began receiving concerned calls from friends and relatives all over the country. All of them had received the same email message, purportedly from her. As the Hudson Star Observer reports, the email started off as most faux email scams do – explaining that Julie had taken a trip overseas and was now stranded and in need of cash after being robbed at gunpoint. The email didn’t stop there, however. In fact, it went on to detail her injuries, and even said that she had nearly been raped in front of her son. According to the email – which identified her son by name – they were still being treated for the supposed injuries. The email concluded by pleading for $1,800 to cover hotel stays and plane tickets to return home.

Though this type of scam email is certainly nothing new, the level of detail in this case is quite surprising, though pershaps it should not be, as cybercriminals today have access to intimate details thanks to Facebook and other social networks. In fact, that’s likely how the criminal discovered Julie’s son’s name and other personal information about her. All it takes for someone to craft a scam email is to hack into an email account and write a convincing letter.

You’re probably used to receiving poorly written emails from hackers, but an email like this would probably catch you off guard. By taking things to the next level, these scammers hope to fool more victims into sending them money. Don’t fall for this latest trick.

According to recent research, young adults (ages 18 to 24) are most likely to leave their personal information open to a theft. Not only do they do the least to protect themselves, they also take the longest to notice discrepancies on their credit card statement or credit history. When you don’t check your credit, identity thieves can continue using the accounts they’ve opened in your name.

Take the necessary steps to make it more difficult for identity thieves to steal your personal information. So, how do you make it harder for thieves to assume your identity? By reducing the ways for thieves to gain access to this information.

-        Do not use the same passwords for online banking and bill paying as you use for social networks and other sites with less sensitive information

-        Do not throw away junk mail, such as credit card ads or bill statements, without shredding them

-        Install virus and malware protection on your computer. Activate password protection anytime you are not using your computer. Criminals are increasingly turning to the internet as a way to steal your personal information.

-        Do not give out any personal information online or over the phone unless you are completely sure that the person receiving it is trustworthy

-        Never write the PIN numbers of your debit and credit cards on the cards themselves, or keep these numbers in your wallet. Do not write down passwords anywhere where others could find them.

-        Use a secure password with a mix of numbers and letters. Never set your password as your Social Security number, date of birth, or the word “password.”

-        Check your credit report annually at annualcreditreport.com, the free, government-legislated website. Doing so will alert you to any fraudulent accounts opened in your name.

These are simple steps that everyone should be taking to protect their identity. If you’re ready to take things to the next level, consider identity theft protection. There are many quality companies offering such services. Some identity thieves will work very hard to get your personal information, especially if you have a good credit rating or high income. Identity theft protection plans can help you out by monitoring for these thieves. However, such a plan is not a replacement for the simple steps listed above.

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.