MyLaptopGPS » computer security

Tip of the Week: Patches Make Perfect

Dan Yost — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:00:02 +0000

OK, not exactly. I was looking to rhyme with “practice makes perfect” so I hope you’ll humor me, but patches make a whole-lot-closer-to-perfect, anyway.

This week’s tip is more of an overall computer security tip, not just a laptop theft tip.

Patch your Operating System. All this means, usually, is to run the automatic updates tool that comes with it. For Windows, this is built right in and the OS often nags you about it incessantly. And with Windows, which is, shall we say, “not exactly a bastion of security,” it’s all the more important to keep the system up-to-date. If you want, it can even be automatically scheduled (that’s the default).

The same is definitely true, though, for MacOS, Linux, and all others.

When exploits are found in an operating system such as Windows and attacks begin, there is no reason whatsoever not to at least have the latest updates installed. Many successful attacks are the direct result of vulnerabilities for which patches were readily available, but not installed. It’s like standing in a rainstorm getting soaked because you “didn’t bother” to take your umbrella. Umbrellas are very simple to use. So are OS updates.

This is the most basic of security tips, yet remarkably under utilized. Patch the system!

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.

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.

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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

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

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 MyLaptopGPS Note That Rise in Security Technology Spending Needs to Encompass Laptop Computers

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:56:38 +0000

(BOSTON, Mass. – March 17, 2009 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Research announced in March shows that IT spending on so-called Identity and Access Management (IAM) technologies is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 30 percent. Widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano observed that this IAM spending needs to encompass the security of portable computing assets. He directed organizations of all kinds to laptop tracking and data retrieval technology from laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS.

“Perhaps the easiest point of entry for identity thieves seeking to steal information is the mobile computing device,” said Siciliano. “Typically a cinch to steal, laptop computers are often home to valuable data. IT departments concerned with managing identities and access on their systems are therefore remiss to neglect their fleets of mobile computing equipment; smart organizations in fact restrict the use of their laptops — and track them.”

IAM known as “provisioning” recently accounted for approximately 60 percent of global IAM market revenue, according to a press announcement regarding an associated report by the industry research firm RNCOS. User provisioning, as defined by RNCOS, is a type of identity management software whereby users may be represented by multiple objects on multiple systems in a computer database.

This projected increase in IAM spending is in response to rising concern over identity theft and data breaches, RNCOS noted. For instance, during the six months immediately preceded February of 2009, the illegal trade of personal information in online chat rooms increased by approximately 25 percent, according to research from Affinion Security Center, whose press announcement noted a 50 percent year-over-year increase in identity theft complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2008.

“With an explosion in the use of mobile computing devices, sensitive data is bound to find its way onto them,” said MyLaptopGPS’ chief technology officer, Dan Yost, who invited readers to visit the MyLaptopGPS blog. “In other words, the spike in identity theft only makes sense. But the reality must change, and simple measures for laptop computer security can slow, even reverse, the trend.”

The rate of laptop theft for computers equipped with MyLaptopGPS’ Internet-based laptop GPS tool is just 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.

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.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

About IDTheftSecurity.com

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

Health Data Security: Where the Data is Matters More Than What Form it Takes

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:00:38 +0000

It used to be that health and medical organizations had archaic data-handling practices. Think hard copies. But most long ago made the switch to the obvious alternative: electronic data. But have we made postive gains from this move? Well, the answer depends, but really, not really — at least when it comes to data security.

The lead-off paragraphs of a recent article online by ABC News prove the point elegantly, highlighting the all-too-familiar scenario of the laptop computer that has gone missing to thieves and possibly contains identifying data records on an untold number of patients. The lamentable truth is that, given these circumstances, stored electronic data on thousands of patients will probably find itself in the hands of the identity thief formerly known as laptop thief. Webmobs, whose ranks are rank with the presence of identity thieves, might find the victims’ information on what’s called an Internet relay chat, where the aforementioned laptop thieves (probably) might have uploaded the data in exchange for money.

The point is that electronic data is at once easy to track and easy to steal — and, when stolen, often more readily usable to thieves than data on hard copy is. In other words, lose the electronic data, and the probability of it falling into the hands of smart thieves who know how to use it increases, and the speed at which this can happen accelerates.

The red herring such realities highlight is the concern that patients’ privacy is therefore under siege and needs to be restored by government, or by companies, or by someone else. Privacy hasn’t existed for a long time, however, and it’s not coming back; it’s too late for that, and the emergence of electronic data keeping in health care does nothing but to amplify this. The real problem, as ABC News’ article notes, is countless labs, medical facilities and other organzations handle data in countless ways — and most of these entities find themselves with patients’ data at some point or other. Few standards govern these entitites’ actions, and chaos ensues.

What does chaos look like? It looks like a whole host of breaches we see in the news. Whenever a laptop computer containing patients’ data records goes missing, that’s chaos. Whenever a data tape gets lost in transit, that’s chaos. Whenever a hacker exposes a fundamental flaw in some health care organization’s firewall and makes out with thousands of unique data records, that’s chaos.

The prevailing problem, of course, is that electronic data records are portable. This can be a benefit to patients and health care providers alike. But the need then to secure that data becomes a paramount concern. Simple, affordable laptop tracking technology can help, but not enough organizations are employing it. Why?

Well, it could be that the some of the debate that electronic medical data inspires is a diversion.

Identity Theft Expert and MyLaptopGPS: Recessionary Economic Circumstances Can Greatly Increase Effects of Laptop Computer Theft

MyLaptopGPS Blog Staff — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:27:25 +0000

(BOSTON, Mass. – March 2, 2009 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Amid conflicting research and predictions about the likelihood that organizations will invest in security technology this year, laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS today noted that the loss to thieves of mobile computing equipment can be financially catastrophic in a recessionary economy. Widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano encouraged organizations everywhere to invest in MyLaptopGPS’ laptop GPS and data retrieval technology; such action can shield their budgets from the financial fallout that typically follows laptop theft.

“Recessions have a way of prompting action that will ultimately save money,” said Siciliano. “Paying attention to computer security and taking simple steps to improve it, such as employing a laptop GPS tool, are among the few activities that can truly deliver a return on investment in this regard. Just as smart organizations always tend to the security of their computer networks and mobile computing assets, the smartest organizations invest in these areas during economic downturns and thus avoid the financial catastrophe that data breaches not only bring, but also amplify when economic conditions are bad.”

Several factors not only exacerbate the pain of laptop theft during a recession, but also in fact might be causes. On Feb. 5, for instance, Forrester Research’s Theanalystview predicted that companies experiencing layoffs this year will want to invest in technology designed to secure or recover data-housing computer assets — any number of which can go missing along with the disgruntled former employees who still have access to them.

Even so, at least one industry sector is seeing cutbacks in security spending: “64 percent of retailers have cut security projects as a result of the economic downturn, and 36% expect budget cuts next year,” according to a Feb. 27th report by ComputerWeekly, which cited a recent Consumer Business Security Survey from Deloitte.

“In a recession, it’s all the more damaging to experience a several hundred thousand dollar data breach,” said MyLaptopGPS’ chief technology officer, Dan Yost, who invited readers to visit the MyLaptopGPS blog. “During economic downturns, organizations must very carefully nurture and protect what they already have because they just don’t have the resources to go out and invest in new computer equipment. This is where an incredibly low theft rate comes in handy — and saves money.”

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.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

About IDTheftSecurity.com

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