Identity Truth warns consumers that this year's most popular
holiday gifts can put their identities at risk. Hot gadgets such as
laptops, GPS devices and even personal robots increase the risk for
becoming a victim of identity theft. While shopping in brick and mortar stores with your smarpthone with you or using your netbook at the local coffee house, you should keep a vigil against identity theft.
"Modern technologies make life more convenient and more fun, but they
can also make our personal information more accessible," said Steven
Domenikos, CEO of IdentityTruth. "Before you purchase the must-have
gadget of this holiday season, there are key facts consumers should know
relative to identity theft."
IdentityTruth has identified potential risks associated with the
following popular holiday gifts:
-
Laptops are a liability - With all of the info on our laptops
nowadays - social security numbers, tax filings, banking
passwords, credit card numbers, medical records and the personal
information we "overshare" on social networks, it's no wonder that
IdentityTruth's research shows reported cases of stolen computers have
more than doubled over 2008. -
Not so SmartPhones - Research points to identity thieves using
cell phones with cameras to capture sensitive information - credit
card numbers, banking info and more - but did you know that having a
smart phone puts you more at risk? iPhones, BlackBerrys and Treos put
the web at your fingertips - and puts your entire browser history at
the fingertips of anyone that gets their hands on your device.
- Wary of WiFi - Recent reports on Wi-Fi Direct anticipate the service, enabling any certified devices to
communicate directly, will be launching in 2010. This new technology
will change the way that people use electronics in the future - and
with all of those wireless signals floating around, it could give
opportunities for identity thieves to intercept signals and extract
sensitive information. -
Trouble from TVs - With the increased popularity of internet
connected HDTVs and streaming internet devices for TVs, people are
interacting with the internet more and more frequently through their
television sets. For any passers-by, the effect is similar to a
magnifying glass on your desktop - it may sound unlikely, but
city-dwellers, take note! - Gambling with GPS - Everyone knows that GPS systems are one of
the most popular targets of thieves. But what they may not consider is
that when a GPS is stolen, the thief has easy access to your home
address, which the thief can use to steal your mail or request a
change of address at the post office, to have your mail routed to them
at a different location. With bank statements/credit card statements
in hand, that person can do their worst. -
"A Little Too" Personal Robots - It may sound like the plot of
a science fiction novel, but "home bots" have evolved, and now have
eyes, legs and hands that can be operated from a remote location. In
fact, a recent report by MSNBC
shows that home bots can be targeted by identity thieves to eavesdrop
and even take photos of documents in your home.
Identity theft is America's fastest-growing crime. More than 70 million
identities will be lost this year alone with as many as 3 million social
security numbers being stolen. Simple credit monitoring is not enough -
only 15% of identity theft is credit-related (85% of identity fraud
happens "outside" the credit system). IdentityTruth has discovered
suspicious "identity events" for more than 1 out of 4 consumers who
subscribe to its service.