IdentityTruth Identifies Risks with Popular Gifts for Holiday 2009

Business Wire - IdentityTruth, a provider of identity theft monitoring services that help consumers safeguard their privacy and identity, 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.

“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.