Contact Information: Media Contacts: Xenia von Wedel Jennifer Tartaglione Terpin Communications Group 415.595.2030 Email Contact
MyPublicInfo Releases Latest Data on Identity Security Breaches
Data Survey of 26,000 Subscribers to Innovative Identity Scoring Engine Yields Shocking Results
| Source: MyPublicInfo
ARLINGTON, VA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- January 16, 2007 -- MyPublicInfo, Inc. (www.MyPublicInfo.com),
the leading expert in identity scoring and an innovative provider of
identity theft protection services and monitoring solutions for consumers,
today released data on potential identity theft threats. Subscribers of
IdentitySweep, MyPublicInfo's cutting-edge identity protection and identity
scoring technology, found many instances of their personal information
openly available on the Web, such as home addresses, phone numbers, and
personal
e-mail accounts. Many subscribers were horrified to find their entire
credit card numbers and Social Security numbers viewable online.
MyPublicInfo, Inc. conducted research on data from 26,000 subscribers. A
staggering 72% had their full address disclosed online, while 49% found
their name and phone number on the Internet. 30% of IdentitySweep
subscribers found their e-mail addresses in one or several locations
online. 1.5% discovered that their credit card number was exposed, and 9%
of the surveyed groups were horrified to find their Social Security number
had some evidence of possible manipulation or misuse.
"The outcome of this survey confirms our worst fears. We believe that
consumers need to proactively manage their identity to avert identity
crimes and crises," explained identity scoring expert Dr. Harold Kraft, CEO
and founder of MyPublicInfo. "We knew there was a gap in consumer identity
protection that needed to be addressed. Electronic identity theft scams
have attained a very high level of sophistication that cannot be cured by
pulling a credit report once or twice a year. With IdentitySweep, our
clients have their backs covered online, 24/7."
IdentitySweep protects consumer identities in three innovative ways:
1. IdentitySweep includes a leading-edge identity fraud detection
technology that scans billions of public records for suspicious activity
associated with identity fraud, including attempts to create a synthetic
identity, such as combining one person's name with another person's Social
Security number. The service analyzes the suspicious activity to provide an
identity score, similar to a "risk score," that indicates how much and for
how long a consumer's identity has been compromised.
2. IdentitySweep searches Internet newsgroups, search engines, blogs and
hundreds of thousands of chat rooms and Web sites looking for personal and
financial information. It instantly notifies consumers by e-mail of any
suspicious activity related to their personal information before the
consumer is victimized. This technology works much faster than a typical
credit fraud and credit report monitoring services, which can only alert a
consumer after they become a victim.
3. IdentitySweep scans the online directories that list a consumer's
information and requests removal of that information to prevent abuse by
telemarketers and identity thieves.
For more information on IdentitySweep, please visit www.identitysweep.com
About MyPublicInfo
MyPublicInfo, Inc. was founded in Arlington, Virginia in 2004 and is the
leading provider of consumer identity scoring and identity management
services. MyPublicInfo sells the most comprehensive consumer products
available through www.IdentitySweep.com and www.MyPublicInfo.com, partner
web sites, and other marketing channels. For more information or orders,
please go to www.mypublicinfo.com