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Facebook Launches New Security Feature

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Facebook has announced a new security feature that focuses on keeping users’ information safe from hackers attempting to gain access into your account.

The feature was announced last Thursday, and is similar to how secured banking sites work — they only let you access the site from approved computers.  If you are attempting to log onto your Facebook account from an unknown computer, device, or location, Facebook will notify you via email and lock down your account in case it is under attack. To regain access, you will have to follow the link in the email which will lead you through a security check to verify your identity. They will ask you a few security questions and have you acknowledge that it was in fact YOU (or if it wasn’t you, then you notify Facebook at this point) trying to access your account.

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention, Online Privacy by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Breaking News: Google Admits WiFi Data Collection

Breaking News

Google has apologized after admitting that they were “accidentally” collecting users personal information that was sent over unsecured wifi networks. Head of communications at Google, Peter Barron, told the BBC that this was a ‘mistake‘ and more robust procedures will be put in place.

John Sileo became one of America’s leading Social Networking Speakers & sought after Identity Theft Experts after he lost his business and more than $300,000 to identity theft and data breach. His clients include the Department of Defense, Pfizer and the FDIC. To learn more about having him speak at your next meeting or conference, contact him by email or on 800.258.8076.

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention, Video Tips by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Boil the Frog Slowly: A Facebook Privacy Map

You are the frog and Facebook is the slowly boiling water. Here is an excellent visual representation of how your default Facebook Privacy Settings have changed over the years. If you want to see the interactive version, click on the picture below and it will take you to the website where you can click on the image year by year and watch your privacy erode. Essentially, the amount of blue on the chart is how much of your information Facebook is sharing with the outside world. Can you say boil the frog slowly?

I found this map in a revealing article on Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerburg published by The Register (U.K.).

The first source for the disturbing comments attributed to Zuckerburg were pointed out to me by my lead researcher, Liz. This article on Mr. Zuckerburg calling his first Facebook users dumbf*&%#$.  appeared on Gawker.com.

Posted in Online Privacy by Identity Theft Speaker .
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How Do I Delete My Facebook Account? | Sileo

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB7_JLdayv4&rel=0]

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How do I delete my Facebook account?

I get asked how to delete a Facebook account nearly every day; whether it’s at my speeches, by my clients, or by my friends and family. It used to be that people no longer wanted the mundane information overload that Facebook promotes. But now they are looking at it from a privacy perspective – they no longer want their thoughts, pictures, and videos shared indiscriminately with people they don’t know.

The defections have been sparked by Facebook’s continuing march to sell your private information (with only your implied consent, i.e., simply by using Facebook, you agree to their terms) with an ever widening circle of people who are NOT YOUR FRIENDS (advertisers, data miners, and unfortunately, identity thieves). Many of the corporations I speak for have me include a component on safe social networking because the information their employees are posting (personally or professionally) are damaging their corporate brand and profits either through data leakage or as a beach-head for social engineering and other types of fraud.

Posted in Online Privacy, Social Media Privacy by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Credit Card Scams: Celebrities Targeted

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Wouldn’t you think Ben Stiller is famous enough to be immune to losing his identity to a thief? Not so! Credit card scams can bring anyone to their knees, even Hollywood’s most famous!

Many celebrities have recently been the victims of a credit card scam that seems too easy to be true. All it took was the suspect calling the credit card companies using the stars’ personal information, claiming the cards had been lost. He requested the replacement cards be sent to a Chicago address and in a matter of days was able to begin his shopping spree. Eventually, a skeptical undercover agent from the US Postal Inspection Service was able to think like a spy and detect the fraud after he hand-delivered the cards to the suspect.

Now this week Adedamola Olatunji, 29, a Nigerian-born man who allegedly used Stiller’s card to run up charges on iTunes and an on-line dating service, was indicted on forgery, mail fraud, theft, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud and other felony charges.

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Dishonest Employees: How to Avoid Hiring Them

Dishonest Employees are a serious issue and common cause for corporate data breach. In this video, identity theft speaker and data theft expert John Sileo discusses several tools that will help you reduce the chances that you are hiring a data thief into your business. The Top 3 Tips for preventing the hire of dishonest employees are:

1. Insure that reference verification procedures are not just in place, but are actually taking place. The difference between a good policy and actual application is what separates best-in-class privacy cultures from those corporations that end up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal as the poster child for data breach.

2. Perform comprehensive background screening in both the hiring process and after the candidate has become an employee. Believe it or not, employees do commit crimes after they have already taken a job with you. If necessary, utilize a strong background screening service to help you flag dishonest candidates.

Posted in Fraud Detection & Prevention, Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Dishonest Employees: How to Avoid Hiring Them

Dishonest Employees are a serious issue and common cause for corporate data breach. In this video, identity theft speaker and data theft expert John Sileo discusses several tools that will help you reduce the chances that you are hiring a data thief into your business. The Top 3 Tips for preventing the hire of dishonest employees are:

1. Insure that reference verification procedures are not just in place, but are actually taking place. The difference between a good policy and actual application is what separates best-in-class privacy cultures from those corporations that end up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal as the poster child for data breach.

2. Perform comprehensive background screening in both the hiring process and after the candidate has become an employee. Believe it or not, employees do commit crimes after they have already taken a job with you. If necessary, utilize a strong background screening service to help you flag dishonest candidates.

Posted in Burning Questions (Video), Fraud Detection & Prevention, Identity Theft Prevention, Video Tips by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Read CreditCards.com Article featuring John!

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Shredded bliss: 5 steps to choosing the perfect paper shredder

Protect yourself from identity theft by shredding daily

By Michael Berg

Modern criminals may be stealing personal information electronically through sophisticated online data mining tools, but small-time crooks sorting through food wrappers and dirty diapers in the quest for discarded paperwork ‘still lurk.

In fact, not shredding potentially sensitive documents before you dispose of them is almost like begging to become one of the Federal Trade Commission’s estimated 9 million victims of identity theft in the United States every year. And with adequate shredders available for as low as $50, there’s almost no excuse — every household should have one.

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker .
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Identity Theft Speech at the FTC – Removing the Black Belt

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How long has it been since you wore a white belt in your area of expertise?

I just had the singular honor of delivering an identity theft speech for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. In case you don’t understand the humorous irony, let me explain.

The FTC is the arm of the U.S. Government that is responsible for educating you and me about our rights as consumer, including how to fight identity theft. In other words, they are the original identity theft experts! Those of us who are professional identity theft speakers turn to the FTC for information, guidance and materials.

So why did they pay my fee to talk about a subject they know so much about?

Perspective.

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker .
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