MyLaptopGPS » MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff

Identity Theft and the New Audi

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:30:24 +0000

Maybe you have seen this commercial or this one.

The message: Distinguish yourself with our lovely Audi Q5… because you’ll be the only person ever to own it and you’ll never get it confused with another car… not even another Audi Q5.

It might not be a great commercial for a car, but think about it: Slightly tweaked, it would be a great commercial for identity theft.

Because think about it — identity theft affects everyone. With another laptop being stolen every 12 seconds, it’s only a matter of time before you or a loved one or a friend of a loved one will be affected.

Really, you WILL eventually know someone whose laptop gets stolen. And what does that mean for you?

Well, unfortunately that means there is likely a lot of personal data up for grabs. And then, BAM: identity theft.

The point is, protect your laptop. The best-case scenario is you’ll have protected it with MyLaptopGPS, and we can get it back to you in one piece. If you don’t, though, you’re putting yourself at risk for identity theft. You get vaccinated for chicken pox and all those other diseases, you have home owner’s insurance, you pay a car insurance bill every month. In other words, you’ve protected every other aspect of your life. Why not protect your laptop? It’s got some of your most valuable information on it.

Identity Theft Expert and Laptop Computer Security: MyLaptopGPS’ CTO Reiterates that a Laptop Computer is Stolen Every 12 Seconds

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:03:57 +0000

(BOSTON, Mass. – April 13, 2009 – IDTheftSecurity.com) The single most important thing a laptop computer owner should assume is that he or she could be the next victim of laptop computer theft, according to Dan Yost, chief technology officer of laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS. A laptop computer is stolen every 12 seconds, noted Yost, who pointed out that the single most effective laptop theft deterrent is laptop tracking technology such as MyLaptopGPS’, which is powered by Internet-based GPS.

“A mobile computer is stolen every 12 seconds,” said Yost, who invited readers to follow MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security blog and laptop computer security posts at Twitter. “Once laptop owners process and accept this fact, they will realize that their machines could very well be next. Laptop computer owners who comprehend this will see their instincts and common sense doing an amazing job of helping to protect their assets. They’ll be far ahead of the curve.”

Yost’s expertise has been featured twice in CXO Europe. Furthermore, in December of 2008, he and widely televised and quoted identity theft expert Robert Siciliano co-delivered a presentation titled “Information in the Modern Age: Maintaining Privacy in an Era of Medical Record Identity Theft” at the 4th Annual World Healthcare Innovation & Technology Congress in Washington, D.C., where Former U.S. Congressman Newt Gingrich delivered the keynote address.

The single most effective action any laptop computer owner can take to protect a machine is to equip it with laptop computer security technology, noted Yost, who added that simple strategies and tactics help to further deter laptop thieves. These include, according to Yost, stowing a laptop away from outside view when leaving it in a locked vehicle and keeping a laptop carrying case’s strap close to the shoulder, placing a hand on the case itself at all times.

Featured in Inc. Magazine and TechRepublic, MyLaptopGPS maintains the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI™), a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses and these losses’ associated costs. Since the beginning of 2008, 3,279,909 data records associated with laptop theft have been lost, according to the REDI at MyLaptopGPS’ website. A log of these high-profile laptop thefts is available.

“Once a laptop computer owner realizes his or her machine could be the next one stolen, many commonsense habits will become second nature,” said Siciliano, who endorses MyLaptopGPS and is CEO of identity theft protection firm IDTheftSecurity.com. “Preventing laptop theft isn’t done in one single swoop, but aware laptop owners are much more likely to do the kinds of things that will keep their mobile computers out of thieves’ hands. And people whose mobile computers are out of laptop thieves’ reach are, frankly, people whose confidential data is much less likely to be within identity thieves’ reach, as well.”

YouTube video shows Siciliano on a local FOX News affiliate discussing the importance of securing mobile computing devices on college campuses, where laptop theft can run rampant. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who’s lost a laptop computer or other mobile computing device to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

Anyone who belongs to LinkedIn® is encouraged to join MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security group there. They may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS, as well, and have the opportunity to read one of two reports tailored to the type of organization they run.

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About MyLaptopGPS

Since 1984, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration. From real-time electronic payment processing software to renowned mid-market ERP implementations, the executive team at MyLaptopGPS™ has been serving leading enterprises and implementing world-class data systems that simply work. With MyLaptopGPS, Tri-8, Inc. brings a level of expertise, dedication, knowledge and service that is unmatched. MyLaptopGPS’ rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services for 25 years.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, Robert Siciliano is a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board and of the consumer advisory board for McAfee. Additionally, in a partnership to help raise awareness about the growing threat of identity theft and provide tips for consumers to protect themselves, he is nationwide spokesperson for uni-ball in 2009 (uniball-na.com provides more information). A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on “The Today Show,” “CBS Early Show,” CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, “The Suze Orman Show,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Tyra” and “Inside Edition.” Numerous magazines, print news outlets and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
http://www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

Brent Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
Zoominfo profile
LinkedIn profile
Brent Skinner’s Blog
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com

Keyword Tags:
identity theft, laptop gps, laptop theft

Identity Theft Expert and Laptop Computer Security: CTO of MyLaptopGPS Explains Why Internet-based GPS is Best for Laptop Tracking

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:14:09 +0000

(BOSTON, Mass. – March 30, 2009 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Stolen laptop computers almost always end up indoors and connected to the Internet, according to Dan Yost, chief technology officer of laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS. He further noted that these circumstances at once hamper other laptop tracking systems and call for Internet-based GPS, MyLaptopGPS’ brand of laptop tracking technology.

“GPS technologies such as those found in car navigation systems are great for tracking cars and kids — both of which are often outdoors,” said Yost, who invited readers to follow MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security blog and laptop computer security posts at Twitter. “But stolen laptops are almost never outdoors. Thieves — or the unwitting buyers of the machines thieves steal — almost always take them indoors and connect to the Internet. This is where Internet-based GPS is best for determining the lost equipment’s whereabouts.”

The success rate for MyLaptopGPS is 99.6 percent; the theft rate for laptop computers equipped with the company’s technology is 0.4 percent, or 32 times lower than the average. MyLaptopGPS’ technology achieves this through six layers of security:

1) Prevention: MyLaptopGPS-equipped mobile computing equipment clearly displays the technology’s presence on the machine. This is itself a major deterrent.

2) Tracking: Internet-based GPS determines the whereabouts (via IP address) of a stolen machine shortly after the unintended user connects to the Internet.

3) Recovery: Once the stolen machine is online, MyLaptopGPS software is able to retrieve important files silently and from a remote location.

4) Destruction: MyLaptopGPS’ software also deletes these same files from the originating machine — again, silently and from a remote location.

5) Tracing: MyLaptopGPS’ offers SafeTags™, police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods™, cell phones, BlackBerry™ devices and other mobile computing property.

6) Identification: MyLaptopGPS’ SafeRegistry™ facilitates the inventorying of entire fleets of mobile computing devices.

“Laptop computer security is inexpensive, but a stolen laptop can cost a fortune,” said Siciliano, who endorses MyLaptopGPS and is CEO of identity theft protection firm IDTheftSecurity.com. “The choice is obvious, and with a success rate approaching one hundred percent, MyLaptopGPS is the go-to solution for organizations of all kinds looking for an affordable, effective deterrent against laptop theft.”

Featured in Inc. Magazine and TechRepublic, MyLaptopGPS maintains the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI™), a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses and these losses’ associated costs. A log of these high-profile laptop thefts is available at MyLaptopGPS’ website. Anyone who belongs to LinkedIn® is encouraged to join MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security group there. They may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS, as well, and have the opportunity to read one of two reports tailored to the type of organization they run.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

About IDTheftSecurity.com

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, Robert Siciliano is a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board and of the consumer advisory board for McAfee. Additionally, in a partnership to help raise awareness about the growing threat of identity theft and provide tips for consumers to protect themselves, he is nationwide spokesperson for uni-ball in 2009 (uniball-na.com provides for more information). A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on “The Today Show,” “CBS Early Show,” CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, “The Suze Orman Show,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Tyra” and “Inside Edition.” Numerous magazines, print news outlets and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters and others. For more information, visit Siciliano’s Web site, blog, and YouTube page.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
http://www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

Keyword Tags:
identity theft, laptop gps, laptop theft

Laptop Theft in Luau Land

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:33:21 +0000

Looks like my big, no-holds-barred Hawaii vacation is going to be put on hold. Getting lei’d in aloha-land is a bit less appealing when you hear about the recent laptop theft from the Department of Transportation.

In the middle of March, a laptop was stolen from the Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Safety Office. The office, in Kapolei, reported the laptop missing on March 18th of this year, and recently sent letters to nearly 2,000 licensed drivers in the area. A copy of the letter can be seen here.

KGMB9 News reported, in their article, that the laptop was stolen from the fifth floor of the building. The computer contained the names, personal information, and Social Security numbers of 1,892 drivers. The Department of Transportation urges anyone whose information may be compromised to seek credit-monitoring services, or at least to get a copy of their free annual credit report. It also suggested ways in which to protect yourself from identity theft.

Had the DOT computer been equipped with tracking software like that offered by MyLaptopGPS, I could be sitting on the beach, happily drinking a Mai Tai and hula dancing, not giving a fleeting thought to laptop theft. Or the fact that my credit card charges are going to be so high for these Mai Tais.

Laptop Theft: Not a Single One Today.

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:29:47 +0000

April Fools!

Another laptop gets stolen every 12 seconds. Don’t think for a second (or 12) that your laptop is safe from predators. They’re everywhere.

In fact, I received 12 emails today from my lovely RSS feeds alerting me of laptop thefts. And those are only the ones reported in the news, with my specific keywords.

Moral of the story is, keep an eye out. One second or twelve, it really makes no difference. These are crimes of opportunity, and no one wants to be called a fool when their laptop gets stolen.

Laptop Theft and Reefer as a Gateway… Crime?

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:41:40 +0000

The Bugle Observer reported last Friday that the Integrated Criminal Reduction unit of Woodstock executed a search warrant on a residence in Hartley Settlement.

What did they find, you ask? Why, a “quantity of marijuana” and a stolen laptop.

The article indicates the laptop was stolen from School District 14 — and it belonged to an elementary school.

Police Sergeant de Winter commented, “We are trying to disrupt and dismantle the distribution and use of illicit drugs in this area. Drug use drives the criminal element.”

So yes indeed, marijuana is a gateway drug. A gateway drug into a life of crime, perhaps?

Regardless, keep your laptops away from any sticky-fingered potheads you might know. This situation might escalate. And if, perchance, you think you need some extra protection, let us know over here at MyLaptopGPS. We can help you out.

Tax Time: Watch Those Laptops!

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:52:12 +0000

An article at marketwatch.com just caught my eye. No matter how you’re filing your taxes this year (and yes, you should be filing for taxes… did you forget?), you’ve gotta keep an eye out for identity theft. Whether it’s someone stealing your tax return straight out of your local mailbox, or a hacker is sitting outside your house tapping into your internet connection, your risk for all of that sensitive information being leaked is pretty high this time of year.

Check out the article here, especially if you’re filing online. If you’re filing from your laptop, be sure to clear your caches and cookies, and don’t save any passwords. There’s so much you can do to protect yourself beforehand, and very little you can do if your data ends up stolen.

Read the marketwatch.com article and let us here at MyLaptopGPS know what you think.

Laptop Theft: Teacher’s Notes, Wedding Photos

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:11:28 +0000

And the hits just keep rolling in.

Kelly Gerard, a student at St. Helens College, was a victim of laptop theft last week. The laptop contained her notes on all of her teacher-training coursework, as well as the photos from her wedding earlier this month.

See the article in the St. Helen’s Reporter here.

Identity Theft Expert and MyLaptopGPS: Unsecured Mobile Computers Facilitate Noted Increase in Risk of Data Breaches Following Layoffs

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:23:14 +0000

(BOSTON, Mass. – March 23, 2009 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Research recently released by the Ponemon Institute indicated that nearly 60 percent of employees stole data from their former employers. One of the easiest points of entry for unscrupulous, exiting employees is the employer’s mobile computing equipment, according to widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano. He noted that an economic recession therefore makes laptop tracking and data retrieval technology as essential as ever, and pointed to affordable solutions from laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS.

“Data is floating all over the place,” said Siciliano. “Disgruntled workers about to leave their employers for whatever reasons seem to know where this data is, and they apparently use it illegally in many instances. Important databases left on laptop computers facilitate a great deal of the chaos, and a smart organization understands that it can go a long way in thwarting unscrupulous, former employees’ machinations simply by securing its fleet of mobile computing equipment.”

CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients through presentations that explore security solutions for businesses and individuals. Author of “The Safety Minute: 01″ and a longtime identity theft speaker, he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, NBC’s “Today Show,” FOX News Network, and elsewhere.

During the 12 months immediately preceding February of 2009, 59 percent of 945 people who had quit their jobs or been laid off or fired stole the their former employers’ data, according to research from the Ponemon Institute (titled Jobs at Risk = Data at Risk and reported in Network World and other publications). Additionally, Ponemon findings indicated, 67 percent drew on their former employers’ confidential data to secure new jobs. Alarmingly, one-fifth of respondents to Ponemon’s survey identified themselves as working in corporate information technology.

“When one-fifth of IT workers are pilfering their former employers’ data for personal gain, management needs to take notice,” said MyLaptopGPS’ chief technology officer, Dan Yost, who invited readers to follow MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security blog and laptop computer security posts at Twitter. “Technologically savvy decision-makers outside the IT department must take a participatory role and take ownership of the organization’s mobile computing equipment, a type of asset particularly susceptible to foul play. Despite falling profits, affordable investments in laptop security technology are essential.”

The success rate for MyLaptopGPS is 99.6 percent; the theft rate for laptop computers equipped with the company’s technology is 0.4 percent, or 32 times lower than the average. Additionally, Yost pointed to SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system from MyLaptopGPS for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags™, which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods™, cell phones, BlackBerry™ devices and other mobile property.

Yost’s expertise has been featured twice in CXO Europe. Furthermore, in December of 2008, he and Siciliano co-delivered a presentation titled “Information in the Modern Age: Maintaining Privacy in an Era of Medical Record Identity Theft” at the 4th Annual World Healthcare Innovation & Technology Congress in Washington, D.C., where Former U.S. Congressman Newt Gingrich delivered the keynote address.

Readers who belong to LinkedIn® are encouraged to join the MyLaptopGPS group there. Featured in Inc. Magazine and TechRepublic, MyLaptopGPS maintains the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI™), a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses and these losses’ associated costs. A log of these high-profile laptop thefts is available at MyLaptopGPS’ website.

Readers may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS. They also have the opportunity to read one of two reports tailored to the type of organization they run.

MyLaptopGPS combines Internet-based laptop GPS tracking with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. A user launches MyLaptopGPS’ features remotely, protecting data even while the machine is in a criminal’s hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software employs laptop GPS to silently retrieve and then delete files from machines as it tracks the stolen or missing hardware — at once returning the data to its rightful owner and removing it from the lost mobile computing device.

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About MyLaptopGPS

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report’s editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients.

A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on “The Today Show,” CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, “FOX News,” “The Suze Orman Show,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Maury Povich,” “Sally Jesse Raphael,” “The Howard Stern Show,” and “Inside Edition.” Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman’s Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others.

Visit Siciliano’s Web site, YouTube page, and blog.

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: (405) 747-6654 (direct line)
jd@MyLaptopGPS.com
http://www.MyLaptopGPS.com

Robert Siciliano, Personal Security Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
http://www.idtheftsecurity.com

Keyword Tags:
identity theft, laptop gps, laptop theft

Laptop Theft: U.S. Army in England at Risk

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:20:38 +0000

The names, post office box numbers, forwarding addresses, units of assignment and work phone numbers of all 6,000 post office box holders from the U.S. Military Base in Mildenhall, England are currently lost in cyberspace.

All of the information, which originally was stored on a password protected military database, was transferred earlier this year to an airman’s personal laptop to make working from home a bit more convenient.

Unfortunately, this convenience was costly. As reported Saturday in Stars and Stripes, British authorities are still looking for the stolen computer containing this personal information.

The post office employee to whom the laptop belongs reported the theft. The laptop was stolen directly from his residence, in nearby Brandon, in early January.

The article relates that, “The Air Force is not participating in the investigation but posted several notices at the mail center urging people to follow Federal Trade Commission guidelines for identification theft, which include placing a fraud alert on credit information. A mass e-mail with the same notification and advice also was circulated around the base.”

The notice stated that the probability that the information even be accessed is pretty low. There was a disclaimer, however, that they could not guarantee that foul play would not occur.

Air Force officials assured the military that the information was protected not only by a password, but also by a complex encryption system.

Mildenhall officials have not reported any cases of identity theft related to the stolen laptop. However, in the past year, there has been a surge in identity theft among military members stationed in England. According to the article, “150 cases totaling $70,000 were reported in July alone.”

While Mildenhall-based military may have a decreased risk of identity theft, it should still be noted that an overwhelming amount of identity theft cases can be traced back to laptop theft and general oversight of laptop security.

Should you also be concerned about the safety of your laptop, I urge you to look into MyLaptopGPS. It can save you a lot of time and money, return your laptop to you, retrieve sensitive information from the stolen laptop, and even delete that information from the laptop remotely after it has been returned to its rightful owner–you.

Just give it some thought. Because if you thought military security was strong, imagine where that puts your personal computer.