Internet Identity Theft.

A Identity Theft Victim at the click of a mouse!

Internet identity theft has been billed by some as "The crime of the century!" Criminals are steadily becoming more sophisticated and tech-savvy and for good reason. All new technology is quickly embraced by two groups of people from the outset.

Usually, the first group to embrace it, are the young professionals. They like new techno-gadgets and can afford them. Surprisingly, the next group to embrace new technology is the criminal element. They don't embrace it for it's novelty. They see it for it's potential financial windfall.

Why then should the Internet be any different?

Computer hacking has been around longer than Microsoft! Legendary computer hackers like Robert Mitnick will vouch for that. Viruses, worms and trojans are not new to the scene. If anything, they have evolved into more potent forms. No longer are they just released to cause mischief on the internet. They are now coded to perform specific tasks, such as collecting sensitive data then "calling home". A worm may lie dormant for any length of time, then upon activation, harvests sensitive information and secretly dials it's home computer to pass it on.

Everywhere around the world today, these worms are doing just that. They are harvesting Social Security Numbers, Bank account Numbers, Passwords, the works. Basically, worms and trojans can be programmed to harvest any information that is resident on the infected computer.

The World Wide Web has really opened up the playing field to identity thieves. Internet crime is actually ahead of the crime fighters for the exact reason given above. Early adaptation of new technology by the criminal element.

“A major credit card processor, CardSystems Solutions Inc. , had personal information hacked and compromised! Total At Risk: A whopping 40 Million people!”

The Internet, the "New Playground" of identity Thieves.

Corporations, universities, insurance companies financial institutions and even Government Agencies collect personal information on everyone with whom they do business,

This data is then stored on computers and so-called "secure servers." Applying what we learned about the "early adapters" of technology, it's clear to see that that information is really just waiting for a determined hacker to take it. Several internet criminals did just that. Here are just a few of the many successful assaults they perpetrated.

• CardSystems Solutions Inc. A major credit card processor, was hacked and compromised. Information that they were not even supposed to be storing anyway, became at risk! Total Clients At Risk: 40 Million.
  
  
• DSW Shoes. Lost information, including credit card and checking account information from more than 100 of their retail store branches. Total Customers At Risk: 1.4 Million.
  
  
• Seisint, a unit of LexisNexis. This unit compiles information from Government records and reportedly holds information about MOST American citizens. The unit is under repeated and continuous attack by identity thieves. In 59 successful attempts over the past two years, the names, SSN's, addresses, and driver's license numbers of thousands have been compromised. Total ID's At Risk: 310,000.
  
  
• San Diego State University. Their Server was compromised by hackers. Students, alumni and employees' names and SSN's were harvested. Total Personnel At Risk: 178,000.
  
  
• The University of Colorado. Hackers from around the world (France and Eastern Europe), successfully gained access to files containing Social Security Numbers, addresses, and dates of birth of students, faculty and staff members. Total At Risk: 49,000.

Please note that we are only referencing Internet Identity Theft breaches. Off-line identity thefts have been no less spectacular. Most memorable recent breach was the 27 million names and other personal information of veteran and other active duty personnel. This information was "stolen" on a laptop out of a Veterans Affairs employee's home, no less!

There is also the ever-present scourge called identity theft scams. These are becoming more sophisticated as the internet matures. Yahoo has just, (Sept. 2006) implemented a seal program that lets you verify the "Yahoo Mail sign-in" website you are looking at is really Yahoo's! A very cool and functional anti-phishing tactic!

If Yahoo is concerned about the security of your personal information, why aren't you?

Still feeling that your personal information is "safe" from internet identity theft? We hope not! After all, we believe that by educating the general population, we will raise their awareness level enough, whereby, they just might take some action and investigate the feasibility of Identity Theft Protection!