At the booth, MyLaptopGPS gave away an iPhone 4, plus a whole bunch of MyLaptopGPS “Protect Your Assets” t-shirts. Lucky winner Charles Tholen of Cognoscape took home the grand prize.

MyLaptopGPS CTO Dan Yost with Charles Tholen of Cognoscape

Congratulations to Charles!

MyLaptopGPS was also touting to the new MyLaptopGPS Reseller Program, which was very well received at the show. We look forward to working with some great resellers.

That’s all for now, and as they say in Texas, “y’all come back now!”

(STILLWATER, Okla. – Oct. 27, 2009 – IDTheftSecurity.com) Laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS, featured in Inc. Magazine, TechRepublic and elsewhere, has introduced patent-pending laptop encryption to its already robust Internet-based laptop tracking product. MyLaptopGPS™, whose unmatched industry theft rate sees only 4 out of every 1,000 machines equipped with the technology going missing to thieves, now features encryption with the fastest speed available and algorithms that far surpass standard AES. MyLaptopGPS’ new FIPS Level 2–certified laptop encryption provides Remote Decryption Kill (RDK), as well, locking data out of thieves’ reach even in the unlikely event that the encryption key becomes available to them.

“Purchasing a capable laptop theft protection technology is easily one of the smartest moves any organization can make,” said Robert Siciliano, CEO of identity theft protection firm IDTheftSecurity.com. “The alternative to paying less than ten dollars per month to protect a machine is to play chicken with costs reaching into the hundreds of thousands, even the millions—the typical aftermath for any organization struck by a highly publicized data theft. MyLaptopGPS far surpasses its competition in not only protecting mobile computing devices from thieves once they’ve gotten a hold of a machine with valuable data on it, but also in deterring those thieves from even bothering to steal the machine in the first place.”

With clients in 18 countries across six continents, MyLaptopGPS, a Tri-8, Inc. company, is a leader in laptop computer security and mobile data privacy. Thanks to a proven multilayered security approach featuring strong encryption, covert laptop tracking, remote data recovery and deletion, and theft prevention, MyLaptopGPS boasts a 99.6 percent success rate in the battle against laptop theft.

MyLaptopGPS Encryption features the following:

• Remote Decryption Kill (RDK)—even a thief who has the decryption key cannot decrypt the data on a MyLaptopGPS-equipped machine
• Fastest encryption available today (patent pending)
• NIST FIPS Level 2 certification
• Non-expanding encrypted data footprint (patent pending)—whether they be entire disks or individual files and folders, the addition of MyLaptopGPS will not increase their size
• Flexible encryption model: disk, file, folder, file type, etc.—the technology adapts to protect entire disks or individual files
• Administrative recovery of lost keys
• Automatic re-encryption
• Hardware-specific encryption: data cannot be decrypted on any other hardware (optional)

“We are aware of no other solution that offers the level of protection now available with MyLaptopGPS,” said Dan Yost, chief technology officer of MyLaptopGPS. Yost, a recognized expert in laptop security and security best practices, provides guidance to corporations, small businesses, academic organizations, and other groups. He invited readers to follow MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security blog and laptop computer security posts on Twitter. Anyone who belongs to LinkedIn® is encouraged to join MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security group there.

“The addition of technology that enables users to actually shut off the keys to new, industry-leading encryption capabilities is truly game-changing,” Yost continued. “When your technology already stops laptop theft nearly one hundred percent of the time—the best success rate in the business—you know you’re doing something right. But we just couldn’t stop there, and now, the impossibly small percentage of MyLaptopGPS customers who do see their laptops go missing to thieves have at their disposal even more tools for damage control.”

Even without encryption, only 4 out of every 1,000 laptop computers equipped with MyLaptopGPS ever go missing to thieves, a theft rate unmatched in the industry; the company’s technology for laptop theft prevention, in fact, is itself a deterrent. Machines equipped with MyLaptopGPS laptop tracking technology that do end up in thieves’ possession have long enabled their rightful owners to remotely track their property and covertly delete and recover data from it, all unbeknownst to the criminal.

Additionally, MyLaptopGPS includes SafeRegistry™, a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers. Bolstering SafeRegistry is a full line of SafeTags™, police-traceable property tags designed to secure not only laptop computers, but also iPods™, iPhones™, cell phones, BlackBerry™ devices and other mobile property. Notably, SafeTags are applied with 3M 300LSE pressure-sensitive adhesive, the functional equivalent of welding for Low Surface Energy plastics.

###

About MyLaptopGPS

Celebrating 25 years in business, Tri-8, Inc. (DBA MyLaptopGPS.com) has specialized in complete system integration since its founding in 1984. 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™’s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company’s commitment to top-notch software products and services.

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects everyone. 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 (idtheftsecurity.com), blog (realtysecurity.com/blog), and YouTube page (youtube.com/stungundotcom).

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

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS Media Relations
PHONE: 405-334-4302
FAX 405-533-1136
info AT MyLaptopGPS DOT com

Robert Siciliano, Identity Theft Protection Expert
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert AT IDTheftSecurity DOT com

Brent Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner AT STETrevisions DOT com

I talked to Ms. Brown (the reporter) yesterday, and she did a nice job concisely drawing out some issues.

Here’s one article, and here’s the companion article.

These are important issues, for certain.

“A mobile computer is stolen every 12 seconds, and now the State of Oklahoma has become a victim of this statistic more than once,” said Yost, who invited readers to follow MyLaptopGPS’ laptop computer security blog and laptop computer security posts at Twitter. “Every time a laptop computer containing citizens’ information is stolen, the financial ramifications for the affected organization (this time, government) can be catastrophic. Just the cost to mail notification letters, for instance, can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The alternative, installing proper laptop security technology on machines containing constituents’ sensitive data, is inexpensive and money well spent.”

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.

Reported in April, the loss of a total of two laptop computers belonging to the Oklahoma state government resulted in the attendant loss of close to 1.25 million unique data records on Oklahoma residents. First, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services revealed that a laptop containing highly sensitive information about approximately one million Oklahomans was stolen from an employee’s car. Then, the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency lost to thieves a mobile computercontaining the private data of up to 225,000 Oklahomans

Yost’s response to these thefts in his company’s home state appeared in news media outlets several times. With Rep. Jason Nelson and Rep. Jason Murphey, Yost also spoke at a related press conference at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Furthermore, in a letter to the editor of his that appeared in Tulsa World, Yost noted the role that laptop security technologycould have played in preventing or greatly mitigating these thefts’ impact

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, 4,291,909 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 again, a large, public organization has failed to safeguard its constituents’ information,” said Siciliano, who endorses MyLaptopGPS and is CEO of identity theft protection firm IDTheftSecurity.com. “The alternative is to invest in and install inexpensive, effective laptop computer security technology. Doing so is in fact simple and runs a high likelihood of preventing laptop theft—which, we’ve seen, is fraught with financial headaches.”

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 maydownload 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

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

The Oklahoman

The Oklahoman (video, also below)

The Oklahoman (followup)

KOCO Channel 5 Project Economy

KOCO Channel 5 Project Economy (video, also below)

KOTV News on 6

KOTV News on 6 (video, also below)

Edmond Sun

KOCO Channel 5

KOCO Channel 5 (video, also below)

KFOR Channel 4

Tulsa World (my letter)

Tulsa Beacon

The Oklahoman (blog)

Suffice it to say that, indeed, Oklahomans are not very happy, judging by the comments I’ve read and the reports circulating.

1,225,000 people breached–that’s about 1/3 of the State of Oklahoma, and it’s a lot of people to upset.

It looks like the Tulsa World ran my letter today, regarding the recent massive data breaches here in Oklahoma.

Also, I was a figure in today’s press conference at the State Capitol about the “CIO bill” making its way through the legislature, so watch the news tonight for more.

Nope. Instead, another theft has occurred while the first theft is still in the headlines, this time affecting 225,000 (also reported: 90,000). At the rate we’re going, I can’t even keep up with the Oklahoma breaches with my blog posts. I’m going to have to start publishing daily. That’s not a good thing, especially for my fellow Oklahomans.

We’ll just wrap both of these nice, massive data breaches up together as the Double Whammy for the Rip of the Week.

1) Theft one: 1,000,000 data records on an Oklahoma DHS laptop.

2) Theft two: 225,000 data records on an Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency laptop.

In both cases, officials note that passwords, even double passwords, were in place. But apparently not encryption.

This has drawn some ridicule from the security community, as you might expect. I have appeared on two OKC news stations to discuss. OSU’s Dr. Mark Weiser also has commented, mentioning that this is essentially like a “locked box inside a locked car” but that “if they want what’s inside, it won’t be very hard to get it.”

I couldn’t agree more. Very well said.

And so, what we have is Oklahoma state government breaching the data of 1,225,000 people in merely two incidents and then going on the record as stating that the likelihood of data theft is low because the machines were password protected.

My hopes are:

1) That others outside of Oklahoma, particularly in the security community, will cut Oklahoma some slack as we try to “fix the situation.”

2) That we will actually fix the situation.

Obviously MyLaptopGPS, located right in Oklahoma, can address #2.  Will the state be interested?

For those who don’t know, MyLaptopGPS is headquartered in Stillwater, OK, which is about 60 miles north of Oklahoma City and 70 miles west of Tulsa.

The news is all abuzz right now as the Oklahoma Department of Human Services revealed a laptop containing highly sensitive information about approximately one million Oklahomans was stolen from an employee’s car. Does this sound familiar? It should–just browse around our website, and pay particular attention to the full Chronicle page for more than 600 examples of similar breaches and issues.

Laptop security is of crucial importance to the privacy and protection of citizens in every nation around the world. It matters to Americans, to Canadians, to the Japanese. It matters to New Yorkers, to Californians, and it matters to Oklahomans. In fact, this is confirmed by a news story on KOCO Channel 5 in which I appeared, where other Oklahomans voiced concerns about the data privacy issues raised here. I later appeared in a story on KFOR Channel 4 to discuss the topic further.

Laptop security with a 99.6% success rate is possible using the solid principles we are and have been advocating at MyLaptopGPS.

In fact, I’ve spoken with state officials on several occasions over the past year, most recently on February 25, about protecting their fleet of laptops, which number in the thousands. But as of April 3 (the date of the theft itself), it appears the state had not implemented a top-to-bottom laptop security program.

Had the DHS laptop been protected with the kind of multi-level security offered by MyLaptopGPS, they would have very likely prevented the theft in the first place (99.6% speaks for itself). If a theft had occurred, we could have tracked the laptop, recovered any data that hadn’t been backed up on systems behyind the DHS firewall, and destroyed any and every data file on the laptop–all remotely and all without the thief’s knowledge.

Instead, the State of Oklahoma (DHS) has already spent $150,000 in Oklahoma tax revenue merely to send the notification letter to half its database. Presumably, another $150,000 to come for the other half. That’s $300,000 in Oklahoma taxpayer funds merely for notification, and we haven’t even reached the standard phase where DHS will offer credit monitoring to all the victims, if they follow the same patterned response that all the other breaches do. That’s a year’s worth of credit monitoring for 1,000,000 citizens, all paid for by the taxpayers of Oklahoma.

Obviously, the State of Oklahoma is likely to agree with us now, that the cost of a stolen laptop  ($300,000 and set to rise very significantly) is worth $10 to protect it.

When will the next breach occur, and how many Oklahomans will it damage? I recommend protecting the whole fleet before that happens.