MyLaptopGPS and Identity Theft Expert: Massive Holes in Laptop Computer Security Can Cost Organizations Millions
The theft of a laptop computer belonging to the British Ministry of Defense sheds doubt on mobile computer security worldwide, said a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert.


/Fraud - Identity Theft News Articles/ - BOSTON, MA, January 31, 2008 - (IDTheftSecurity.com) The theft of a laptop computer belonging to the British Ministry of Defense sheds doubt on mobile computer security worldwide, said Robert Siciliano, a widely televised and quoted personal security and identity theft expert. He directed firms to MyLaptopGPS(TM), whose technology helps to prevent the massive data breaches associated with laptop computer theft.

"Those who specialize in the defense of nations should be leading the way in laptop computer security," said Siciliano. "Instead, one of the world's premiere defense departments has been shown to be unforgivably vulnerable to the loss of its mobile computers. Apparently, problems with security for laptop computers run deep worldwide."

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.

On Jan. 19 numerous news outlets reported the overnight theft, from a car, of a laptop computer belonging to the British Ministry of Defense. According to these reports, the lost mobile computer housed sensitive, identifying information on serving personnel and others that had come into contact with the military. Further reports then revealed that the British Ministry of Defense had lost hundreds of mobile computers over many years' time and in fact was unsure of the exact number.

An unrelated article from the IDG News Service on Jan. 14 showed the potential amount of money that an organization might pay in the wake of losing even a single laptop. Tennessee's Davidson County Election Commission, which lost a mobile computer containing the Social Security numbers of 337,000 registered voters in December, stood to spend $1 million on identity theft protection for the victims.

"Any organization, not just one whose focus is defense, can easily protect its fleets of laptop computers for less than pennies on the millions of dollars that bad security ultimately costs," said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. "The alternative, to do nothing, is to court the possibility of financial disaster."

MyLaptopGPS (http://www.mylaptopgps.com/) combines Internet-based GPS tracking -- which, for tracking and retrieving stolen laptops, is more effective than other forms of GPS -- with other functionalities to secure mobile computing devices. Users launch MyLaptopGPS' features remotely, protecting 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.

MyLaptopGPS also offers SafeRegistry(TM), a comprehensive system for inventorying entire fleets of mobile computers, as well as a full line of highly renowned SafeTags(TM), which are police-traceable property tags designed to secure iPods, cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and other mobile property.

A downloadable demo of MyLaptopGPS is available:

http://www.mylaptopgps.com/demo

The October 2007 issue of Bank Fraud & IT Security Report, a newsletter published only in hard copy, ran "The Seven Layers of Laptop Security," an article by Siciliano and Yost. A white paper adaptation of that article is available from MyLaptopGPS:

http://mylaptopgps.com/whitepaper_sls.php

Readers may view YouTube video of "NBC 7 Chicago" footage featuring Yost delivering comments for a televised news report that covered the April 2007 theft of two laptops that stored 40,000 Chicago Public School teachers' Social Security numbers:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MylaptopGPSdotcom

According to USA Today, theft of personal data more than tripled in 2007. Readers may view video of Siciliano discussing this on the new "FOX Business" network:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFA0UcpEffU

To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who's lost a laptop computer to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug:

http://www.videojug.com/interview/identity-theft-computers-and-laptops

Further Related Resources:


Press Release Contact Information:

Robert Siciliano
IDTheftSecurity.com
CEO
P.O. Box 15145
Boston, MA
United States 02215
Voice: 888-742-4542
Fax: 877-232-9669
Website: Visit Our Website