(One You Security) Separate research studies released over the past two weeks revealed not only that data breaches for 2007 as of Sept. 30 had reached an "all-time high," but also that a majority of companies whose data is breached fail to notify clients. The findings painted a worrisome picture of the state of data security, with clear implications for consumers, said Robert Siciliano, widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security (http://www.oneyou.com), LLC, a company whose service continually searches the Internet for illegal use of subscribers' identifying information and does everything it can to render their Social Security numbers useless to thieves who would otherwise use them to commit financial fraud.
"When it comes to data breaches, clients are frequently synonymous with consumers," said Siciliano. "So these findings affect more than just 'other companies.' Every time a security breach occurs, there is apparently a three in five chance that the client will never learn that data has been compromised. This is unacceptable, and yet it is the situation on the ground. To protect themselves, consumers must take matters into their own hands. Fortunately, a comprehensive answer to the problems exists: One You."
One You Security is a service that transforms Social Security numbers into something functionally useless to financial fraudsters. Additionally, One You PowerScan scours more than 150 million websites, 80 million blogs, 90,000 message boards and chat rooms, and billions of spam e-mails for potentially illegal use of its subscribers' identifying information. These subscribers to One You Security also receive newsletters and special alerts from Siciliano (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLylU5xflx8). Through these, they get the latest information on data breaches and learn more about identity theft prevention. Chief security analyst for One You Security and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report's editorial board, Siciliano regularly discusses data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC's "Today Show," FOX News Network and elsewhere.
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, the total number of data breaches was 516, according to an ongoing tally by The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) and announced on Oct. 6:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/itrc-breach-list-reaches-all-time/story.aspx?guid=%7b8DFA20E4-5CB2-4142-8ADA-47801C4826C8%7d&dist=hppr
The ITRC's total for 2007 was 446 breaches, which suggested that the final number for 2008 would dwarf last year's. In August, in fact, the ITRC's count had already surpassed last year's by three.
Additionally, 60 percent of organizations that experience data breaches fail to notify clients, according to research by U.K.-based IT and business services company Logica. The survey's results, announced on Sept. 24 and derived from a comprehensive study of IT Directors, CTOs and IT security managers in 300 public and private sector organizations, further found that more than half of companies fail to understand the impact of a security breach:
http://www.logica.co.uk/TheCMS.Web/r/350233169/Companies+failing+to+disclose+data+breaches+to+clients+according+to+Logica+security+survey/400013398
"The rate of data breaches itself is a major cause for concern," said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. "But the prospects for industry-wide reforms would at least seem hopeful if a majority of organizations were to exercise transparency when data breaches do happen. Yet this, apparently, is not their typical response. In the absence of responsible behavior on the part of a majority of organizations entrusted with sensitive, identifying data, consumers must protect themselves -- something that One You enables them to do."
Consumers who choose One You Security do so in part because the company strives to transform their Social Security numbers into meaningless strings of digits of no use to thieves. The firm backs all its offerings with a 100 percent service guarantee.
YouTube video shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves online and off-line:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqoHSACQ34U
A collection of videos at VideoJug features Siciliano sharing advice on how consumers can protect themselves from identity theft and fraud:
http://www.videojug.com/search?keywords=siciliano
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About One You Security, LLC
Sarasota, Fla.-based One You Security's mission is to eliminate the threat and consequences of identity theft. For just $10 per month, anyone can sign up for One You Security's identity theft protection service, a proactive, preventative approach whereby the company activates and manages its customers' fraud alerts with major credit bureaus. Subscribers also receive full access to ongoing education from identity theft protection expert Robert Siciliano, chief security analyst for One You Security (http://www.OneYou.com), which backs up its promise to protect clients' financial identities with a 100 percent service guarantee. To sign up for One You Security, dial 1-800-434-2010.
About IDTheftSecurity.com
Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com (http://www.IDTheftSecurity.com), chief security analyst for One You Security, 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. Author of "The Safety Minute: 01" and 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 protection. These include
The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:
Chris Harris
President & CEO of One You Security
PHONE: 941-342-0500 (x231)
Chris@OneYou.com
http://www.oneyou.com
Robert Siciliano
Chief Security Analyst for One You Security
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
RobertSiciliano@OneYou.com
Brent Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://www.brentskinner.blogspot.com
