Data Breeches are costing millions each year. The HITECH Act has not changed data protection as first thought. Dr. Larry Ponemon from the Ponemon Institute (which conducts independent research on privacy, data protection and information security policy) has submitted a great blog on the statistics which is available at : http://www.ponemon.org/blog/post/poor-privacy-practice-is-ailing-healthcare-industry

It can happen to you. Worse it can happen to your children. Computer hackers. Taking control of you computer. Watching every move. The hacker used social networking sites to spread a virus and infect computers with malicious code, thus infect and take over more than 100 computers. This is more than just identity theft, it was for extortion and control. Read the following FBI press release and verify you have not had communications with the screen names or email addresses listed: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2010/november/web-of-victims/web-of-victims

It is happening again, a large corporation has the potential loss of data due to a security breech. this means medical records, social security numbers even credit card information may have been exposed. The threat of Medical Identity Theft is even greater in a a case like this. Read California Health Line article at: http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2010/6/30/wellpoint-breach-could-have-exposed-enrollees-medical-financial-data.aspx

Now that April 1 is here the Census forms are due. Remember, a few of the following guidelines:
The census people are NOT coming to your home until May 1 to July 1. Anyone knocking your door now is a potential scam artist. They will arrive if you have NOT filled out your census form and returned it; or have not filled it out correctly.
There are only 10 questions to answer.
They are not to ask for Social Security Numbers, or bank information.
Do not invite them into your home.
They will have a badge, and carry a black bag with US Census Bureau on it.
Check the web site for further details: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php.
If you have NOT received your census form by April 12, call one of the toll free assistance lines:
* ENGLISH – 1-866-872-6868
* Chinese: 1-866-935-2010
* Korean: 1-866-955-2010
* Russian: 1-866-965-2010
* Spanish: 1-866-928-2010
* Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010
* TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing impaired):
1-866-783-2010
* Puerto Rico (in English): 1-866-939-2010
* Puerto Rico (in Spanish): 1-866-929-2010

Census Bureau Call Center

General Telephone Lines: 1-800-923-8282

Read more since the last blog post on 2.22.2010 now from the National Emergency Cyber Alerts for more awareness about the 2010 Census Scam issues:
http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=489&z=43

Catch the latest article in PC World and re-evaluate all your computer systems, whether it is your wireless devices, the online backups or getting emails at your favorite coffee spot with free Wi-Fi connections….read: http://www.pcworld.com/article/187199-4/how_to_stop_11_hidden_security_threats.html

How many people accept invitations to be friends on social networks and haven’t a clue who that person is? Well, read this article and be mindful of the information you share!
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/08/over-40-percent-of-facebook-users-invite-identity-theft-by-blind/