(IDTheftSecurity.com) The Department of Homeland Security has found a major U.S. federal agency's laptop computers to be poorly secured. Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert, urged organizations to reconsider their lax laptop security policies and turn to MyLaptopGPS™, an affordable Internet-based system for protecting mobile devices against otherwise costly loss and theft.
"Smart organizations understand that a well-secured fleet of laptop computers saves money," said Siciliano. "Any theft or loss of a laptop computer can be devastatingly costly, especially when sensitive data such as Social Security numbers go missing with the hardware. Customers or other constituents lose trust in the organization, attempts to recover unsecured machines are typically unsuccessful, and the negligence that often contributes to these incidents invites justifiable class action lawsuits."
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 in workshops that explore consumer education solutions for security issues. A longtime identity theft speaker and author of "The Safety Minute: 01," he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC's "Today Show," FOX News, and elsewhere.
Readers may view news footage of Siciliano using a recent Blackberry hacking incident related to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign as backdrop to discuss the vulnerabilities of wireless, mobile computing devices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka5ZvPT7dgQ
As reported on July 3 by FCW.com, the Office of Inspector General (IG) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has found that the security of laptop computers belonging to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is poor across a wide spectrum of criteria. A report from the DHS's IG (http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIGr_07-50_Jun07.pdf) detailed a number of issues affecting the security of FEMA's laptops and other computers. Of particular concern was FEMA's inability to account for a significant number of mobile computers known to be in its inventory.
"For a long time, MyLaptopGPS has touted solutions to the issues DHS delineates in its report," said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. "Any government agency, company, or other type of large organization that relies on lax security for its fleets of laptop computers invites disaster and ought to stand up and take notice in response to wake-up calls like these."
For more information on MyLaptopGPS's recommendations for organizations wishing to secure their fleets of laptop computers, readers may click on the following link:
http://www.mylaptopgps.com/laptop_security.php
MyLaptopGPS's technology combines Internet-based GPS tracking—which, for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops, is more effective than other forms of GPS—with other functionalities that users can launch remotely to protect data even while the machine is in a criminal's hands. Once connected to the Internet, the software silently retrieves, and then deletes, 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 computer.
Furthermore, SafeRegistry™, an inventory management system built into MyLaptopGPS, allows for the secure storage, retrieval, and reporting of information that helps organizations like FEMA keep track of their laptop computers. This information includes, but is not limited to:
• Serial numbers
• Model numbers
• Purchase information
• Photographs
• SafeTag™ numbers
• Location
A downloadable demo (http://www.mylaptopgps.com/demo) of MyLaptopGPS is available. Recently, Yost delivered comments for a televised news report pertaining to the loss of laptop computers containing the Social Security numbers of numerous teachers at Chicago's public schools. Following is a link to YouTube video of the "NBC 7 Chicago" footage:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MylaptopGPSdotcom
To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who has been affected by the theft of a laptop computer, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug:
http://www.videojug.com/interview/identity-theft-computers-and-laptops
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About MyLaptopGPSSince 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™'s rock-solid performance, security, and reliability flow directly from the company's commitment to top-notch software products and services for almost 25 years.
About IDTheftSecurity.comIdentity theft affects us all, and 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 CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," NBC's "Today Show," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. 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
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.
For more information, visit Siciliano's Web site, http://www.IDTheftSecurity.com; blog, http://www.realtysecurity.com/blog; and YouTube page, http://www.youtube.com/stungundotcom.
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
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
www.idtheftsecurity.com
Brent W. Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.biz
www.STETrevisions.biz
