Posts Tagged ‘LifeLock promotion code’

Another celebrity’s e-mail hacked: The importance of strong passwords.

Monday, July 20th, 2009

keyboard-image1How important is it that you construct a strong password? Just ask Fox and Friends Weekend co-host Dave Briggs, or former Alaskan governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Both of them have had their email accounts hacked by intruders who were able to guess their victims’ passwords.

For Briggs, it was his Hotmail account. Writing as Briggs, the attacker sent all of Briggs’ contacts an email begging that they send money via Western Union so that he might be released from Malaysia where he, ostensibly, was trapped. (more…)

ID theft rings scour toxic e-waste dumps for computer hard drives

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Every year millions of tons of discarded government, business and personally owned computers end up in one of the sprawling, smoldering e-waste dumps in developing countries. Your wedding photos may be in Ghana, resting against multi-million dollar defense contracts. Your financial records may be in India, buried beneath Homeland Security white papers. (more…)

Clear’s closure leaves security of travelers’ info up in the air

Monday, June 29th, 2009

I’ve seen stories of client information left completely unsecured, unprotected and easily accessible after the closing of a doctor’s office, a car dealership, a real estate agency and a fitness center.

In some cases the customer files were dumped into open trash bins, in others the files were simply left in abandoned offices or in boxes at the curb.

Now, with last week’s failure of Clear, the program that assured travelers’ hasty passage through airport security, the extensive information of 260,000 former customers is at risk. (more…)

LifeLock only ID theft service with “A+” from BBB

Friday, June 26th, 2009

The most important time to check out a company on the Better Business Bureau’s website might be when you’re shopping for an ID theft protection service. After all, whichever company you choose, you’re going to have to give them a whole lot of personal and financial information. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of ID theft companies out there. But, you’ve come to the right place, because I’ve made your life a lot easier by doing a quick BBB check on the 12 most prominent ID theft service companies as identified by the Consumer Federation of America.

Here’s what I found: LifeLock is the only of the 12 companies to receive an A+ ranking by the Better Business Bureau. (more…)

Maker of LAID OFF NEED A JOB bracelet arrested on ID theft charges

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Watch for the new yellow bracelets that say “LAID OFF NEED YOUR NAME, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH.”

Stephanie R. Aucoin joined the ranks of millions of other unemployed Americans last September when she was fired from her job at an accounting firm last September. But, with the help of friends, by April, she was selling thousands of yellow bracelets imprinted with the words “LAID OFF NEED A JOB.”

After her arrest by Sarasota police, maybe she needs new bracelets that say “ARRESTED NEED BAIL MONEY.” (more…)

What to do if you become a medical ID theft victim

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Imagine you receive a collections notice from a hospital 1,000 miles away … in a city you’ve never visited … for a surgery you’ve never had … for a health problem you don’t have … and the notice says you owe more money than your house is worth.

You have to take immediate action, but be warned: Whoever had the surgery might be recovering better than you will. (more…)

LifeLock review: WalletLock for safe vacationing

Friday, May 29th, 2009

You’ve been waiting for it all year: surreptitiously checking airfare at work, grilling friends about the best hotels and restaurants or cruising cruise schedules.

Obviously you’ve given a lot of thought to your vacation, but did you ever think someone could steal your identity while you travel?

We got ya covered with a five-minute solution. (more…)

LifeLock review: Houston area District Attorney is ID theft victim

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Imagine walking confidently onto a car lot to buy a car for your college-age son. You make an enviable salary, and have always paid your bills on time. Now imagine being turned down for the purchase because of your awful credit.

That’s what happened to Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne. The dealer explained the problem arose because she defaulted on the $17,000 loans for the two cars she bought in 2008. (more…)

Which ID theft service should you choose?

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

With the FTC’s announcement that 10 million Americans became identity theft victims in 2008, you might be wondering how to protect yourself. You have three options: Do-it-yourself, credit monitoring or comprehensive identity theft services. (more…)

LifeLock review: Identity theft victims’ moment of discovery

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

There are life-changing moments when time seems frozen, when the mind races, tripping over itself as it tries to make sense of what’s happening.

A loan for a son’s or daughter’s first car is denied because a parent’s credit score has taken a precipitous dive. A bill collector calls demanding payment on a hospital bill in another state. A woman hands her license and registration to a traffic cop, never dreaming that within minutes she’ll be handcuffed and arrested on outstanding warrants.

Those are the moments of discovery for most identity theft victims. (more…)