digital media strategy blog

It seems a day doesn’t go by without a company announcing it has lost or had customer data stolen. TransUnion Credit Agency has now joined the parade of identity theft.

TransUnion Credit Agency

In late summer, TransUnion discovered that over 3,600 consumer records had been stolen from a regional sales office in California. The company indicated the data was stored on an independent desktop computer. The company believes the computer was stolen as part of a burglary, not an intentional intent to steal consumer data.

There are more than a few serious issues with TransUnion’s position and action. First, consumer data shouldn’t be stored on a desktop computer sitting on a desk. More importantly, what is the data doing on a computer in a regional SALES office? TransUnion is supposedly looking into these issues.

Insultingly, TransUnion has suggested the stolen data is not a big deal since the computer is password protected. If TransUnion really thinks a password protected desktop computer is going to keep someone from seeing the data, it should lose its right to do business. A hacker would smirk at that.

Bigger Issues

3,600 consumer records is really a small issue when considering the big picture of consumer privacy issues. It does, however, portend to a bigger problem.

TransUnion is one of the big three credit reporting agencies with Experian and Equifax being the other two. It strikes me that the databases of these three companies must be the Holy Grail of Identity Theft. What happens if someone gets into one of these systems?

What happens if an employee with access to the data gets tempted? Keep AOL in mind. An AOL employee was recently sentenced for selling the AOL member list to spammers. How much do you think a criminal organization would pay for a copy of consumer records in a credit agency database?

A lot.

Richard A. Chapo is a San Diego business lawyer with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com - a San Diego business law firm in San Diego, California.

The United States of America’s government and the local governments that we trust with our information as we fill out forms that the government requests us to do as good citizens; are indeed the biggest purveyors in personal identity information that identity thieves use to steal our money.

There is too much information that government has each time you get a license, buy a piece of property, or even did a driver’s license and all this information can be gotten by anyone who really wants it. And guess who wants it? Identity thieves and lawyers who may want to sue you?

One could say that since lawyers are often thought to as thieves then the only person who wants your information from the government is identity thieves and thieves. So why is the government supporting thieves? Does that make sense?

The government makes laws against identity theft and then they are the ones giving away the identity and personal information to every Tom, Dick and Harry thief who is walking the planet. The Federal Trade Commission will fine any company that allows personal information to leave their computers.

But the government gives it away every single day. Does this mean the government can fine the government and if so why is Congress funding the budget for the Federal Trade Commission? Can’t they make it up in fines to government agencies, which allow identity theft? Consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

With identity theft statistics currently at an all time high, and climbing, it just makes sense that we should all be doing everything we can to protect ourselves.

One of the most prevalent yet overlooked ways your personal information and passwords may be being compromised is through the presence of Spyware on your computer.

Note these very disturbing Facts about Spyware and Identity Theft:

- 27.3 million Americans have been victims of identity theft in the last five years, including 9.91 million people or 4.6% of the population in the last year alone.

- Spyware infects 91% of all computers. That equates to an alarming 9 out of 10 computers!

Stop thinking Identity Theft can’t happen to you. It can.

Spyware is without doubt the most prevalent threat to online computer privacy and security.

You maybe wondering, exactly what is Spyware?

Spyware applications are programs and files that hide on your PC’s hard drive without your direct knowledge. They allow hackers and advertising companies to track your every move, both online and even when you work offline.

Tracking the websites you visit, the items that you buy online, the emails you send and receive, your Instant Message dialog, and worst of all they can even record your credit card number, personal identification numbers, and all of your passwords.

If you use dial-up to connect to the Internet then spyware can be used to bill 900 numbers to your telephone bill.

Spyware allows hackers to take control of your browser and alter your computer system files.

These computer parasites slow down your Internet connection by inundating you with unwanted Spyware pop-up ads.

This is just a short list of the harm that Spyware can cause.

Note: Spyware and Adware cannot be detected by anti-virus and firewall software.

Have you noticed your computer running slower than ever?

The reason for that may have to do with online advertisers adding Spyware, or Adware to your computer without your knowledge.

What is Adware?

Adware works very much like Spyware.

Adware is software that will show you popup ads over and over. These files can also be extremely dangerous to your PC and could cause major problems with your Computer.

If you’re still wondering why you should be concerned about adware or spyware, consider this reality.

Through the use of adware and spyware your passwords, credit card numbers and other personal information could end up in the wrong hands.

In an attempt to provide some much-needed information on the subject of spyware, adware and identity theft I’ve compiled a Special Report called Spyware! How To Get and Stay Safe.

The report is in PDF format and can be had for the asking by visiting the following URL:
http://www.easyhow-to.com/identity-theft-avoidance.htm

Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. “Mr. How-To”, is Editor at EASYHow-To Publications and has been contributing articles that help people make their lives better since 1999. At his web site, The “How To” Library, you’ll find a collection of the latest tools, tips, and information you need to help you get things done. For more information visit http://www.EASYHow-To.com

You know the idea that someone would want to steal someone else’s identity and become them is rather interesting philosophically speaking. In my life due to successes in sports, business, politics, writing and other various endeavors I have had people come up to me and say; I wish I was you. And I am thinking no you don’t you dummy?

Sure you might like the trappings of success, the victory, notoriety, money, etc., but I guarantee you do not want the adversity that comes along the way. In sports the grueling workouts, pain and unbelievable commitment. In business you certainly do not want the 27 years straight, 17-hour days with no days off. And in the build you up and tear you down game of politics, well you certainly do not want to incoming stones. As far as writing, few have the commitment to sit down and write 6111 articles so I doubt they would want that either.

So you can imagine how philosophically intriguing to me it is to think about this stupid identity theft issue we see now, as criminal try to car-jack your credit rating and become you temporarily in order to get boatloads of free stuff and risk being locked up in the slammer you see. It has occurred to me that those who wish to hijack someone else’s identity ought to also if and when caught walk in there shoes for a year or two and see what it is really like.

In fact I believe if someone steals someone’s identity they should be also made to pay off all their bills, loans, do their work and become that persons slave for two to three years and then see how they like it. Well that ought to teach them indeed, consider this punishment for identity theft criminals and you will be glad you did. Consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

As our lives become more dependant on conveniences like credit cards, the Internet and other technologies we also open up doors to opportunistic thieves. These identity thieves seek to use our name, credit and money to steal and commit fraud. Victims are left fighting - sometimes for years - to overcome the debts, clear their reputation and deal with the emotional consequences of being victimized.

With estimates of nearly 10 million Americans being victimized within a year along with millions of others around the world it is crucial that you learn the steps you must take to prevent, identify and combat identity theft.

Did you know that thieves do more than just steal credit cards? They can open new accounts or commit fraud in your name and you may not even realize it until the creditors or police come to get you!

Did you realize that many of the methods identity thieves use can be easily prevented by taking simple precautions?

Are you aware of the ways that identity thieves find your information? Methods used to steal your information right in front of your eyes without you ever being aware of it? By not knowing these methods you may be making yourself an easy target!

If you know that your personal information has been accessed or otherwise tampered with there are steps you must take to stop the thieves and try to repair the damage. It is important to stay alert to signs that your information is being used without your consent even when you don’t suspect you’ve been a victim.

Staying alert to these signs will help you respond quickly if your identity has been stolen:

Unfamiliar charges or withdrawals

Always check your bank and credit card statements and make immediate inquiries to unfamiliar charges and withdrawals.

Missing mail

If your bills and other mail have gone missing a thief may have broken into your mail box or had your mail redirected to a new address.

Calls from Creditors

If you are being contacted by creditors you did not do business with you need to take immediate action to find out who has.

New Credit Cards

Receiving new credit cards or bills that you didn’t sign for is a danger sign that your identity may have been stolen.

Denial of Credit

Unexplained refusal of credit requires investigation on your part. You need to get access to your credit report right away.

You could be a Victim of Identity Theft - Learn the 14 common mistakes and 5 Red Alerts that you’ve been attacked. Learn What to Do If you’ve been Victimized and How to Prevent Thieves from Targeting You!

The Identity Theft Guide http://www.theidentitytheftguide.com/

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an increasingly popular marketing method to syndicate real estate website content for clients and prospective clients. RSS enables distribution of website content to third-party websites and RSS news readers.

Newsreader (or feedreader) use is growing rapidly. Newsreader software allows users to grab RSS feeds from various sites and display them to read and use. If you have a My Yahoo! or My MSN page, then chances are, you are already using RSS! The customized items you choose for those pages are syndicated RSS feeds from various news and information sources.

For real estate agents and professionals, RSS has many uses. For example, someone looking for a house or a place to rent can simply use an agent’s RSS feed to keep up with the latest listings. If they see an interesting item, they can click directly to the website for more information. Mortgage brokers can quickly and easily alert RSS subscribers of rate changes or other news.

Some other uses for real estate RSS feeds include: featured homes and commercial properties, rental properties, announcing open houses, virtual tours, mortgage rates, news & announcements, and e-newsletters.

RSS is extremely targeted because it is user-controlled and, unlike e-mail, it has a 100% delivery rate. Unfortunately, e-mail is quickly losing its marketing power due to e-mail filters and recent anti-spam legislation. Also, an RSS feed is simpler to maintian than an e-mail list. There is no address lists to maintain and no software needed to send messages, and no risk of spam problems.

RSS can also help with the marketing of your website though traditional search engines.

Because your website (through RSS feeds) has more “fresh” content, your website will be indexed more frequently by search engine spiders. Therefore, anything that you add to your website will be picked up by search engines that much faster.

RSS is a growing technology that should be taken seriously. Start early and reap the benefits of RSS marketing today!

S.R. Daley is the web developer for http://www.myrealtyfeed.com, a service that allows real estate professionals to create, maintain and promote multiple RSS feeds with a simple web interface.

This article may be republished without changing the content and the bio box.

Gain Massive Exposure For Your Service

Get your web site listed in Google and Yahoo in day’s if not hours, I did, never pay $299 to be listed in Yahoo - you can get your site listed if you have an RSS feed.

Googlebot and Yahoo’s ‘Slurp’ bot have never left my server since putting up a RSS feed, and syndicating it through RSS directories where it was quickly found by an eager, info- hungry crowd of affluent types who are looking to spend their disposable income on something that captures their imagination.

With still only about 90,000 RSS feeds in the world, compared with about 6 billion web pages, if you put up an RSS feed of your own, your feed will get noticed very quickly - like the same day!

Traffic to your web site will double, triple, or more from your RSS feed, and you will find more buyers coming in rather than freebie seekers.

If spam filters are putting you off sending out emailed newsletters, then keep in touch via your RSS feed and update it once, twice or more per day to get your info out that you want your subscribers to see.

Got a new product to sell?

Then put it in your RSS feed and it will be noticed the minute you upload the file to your server. Millions of people can now see your RSS feed, not only in a ‘feed reader’ software, but in feed compatible browsers such as the latest ‘Opera’ and ‘Netscape 6′.

RSS feed directories have sprung up for you to list your feed in, but there are up to 40 directories worth putting them in - I list them in my latest ebook - ‘Really Simple RSS’ -with direct links to all the directories to submit to right away.

So - how difficult is it to put up a feed?

If you can open ‘Notepad’ and type, you can make a feed file to go on your server and this will be seen by countless people all over the world who are looking for the latest products to buy.

If you desperately need to raise awareness and create more exposure for your service or product, without spending huge amounts on advertising - then you need to put up that RSS feed now before the Klondike of all rushes starts. The colossal explosion of information through the ‘third dimension’ of the internet is about to start - the ‘first dimension’ was the text based information in dos that started as the internet - which then was only for academics and scientists swapping information on research - the ’second dimension’ was the introduction of the graphical capability of browsers which allowed pictures, text and movie’s - we now move inexorably onward through the ‘third dimension’ of RSS feeds and now everyone can become a news publisher, the newspaper and magazine publishers are in trepidation, their reign may now be coming to an end, all information in the future will be by RSS feed and ‘blogs’, in fact most 18-24 year old’s are now not even switching on the television, but cruising on the computer instead!

Will you have an input into this ‘third dimension?

About The Author

Tony Dean is a published author and owner of web site at: http://www.ebook-sales.com. His latest ebook is:-”Really Simple RSS” Subscribe to his ezine, send blank email:- ebook-sales@aweber.com

Below is a letter I wrote to the following organizations:

S.H.U. (Spam-Haters Unanimous)

N.A.A.P.W.H.S. (National Association for the Advancement of People Who Hate Spam)

P.W.H.P.W.D.H.S. (People Who Hate People Who Don’t Hate Spam)

P.F.W.S.H.I.A.L.C. (People for Whom Spam-Hating is a Lifestyle Choice)

S.A.P.W.R.R.R.H.S. (Society for the Advancement of People Who Really Really Really Hate Spam)

P.W.H.S.S.M.I.M.L.W.S.C.O.T.E. (People Who Hate Spam So Much It Makes Little Wisps of Steam Come Out of Their Ears)

And, of course: Spam Haters In The Business of Internet Resource Directory Services.

DEAR FELLOW SPAM HATERS,

I’m writing to suggest that we combine forces in order to present a common front in our righteous war on unsolicited commercial email:

Spam!

I suggest we disband the myriad sites and organizations now opposing unsolicited commercial email in order to form a single, unified organization:

The Spammish Inquisition!

And I further suggest we elect me, Linda Cox, as our leader. Our Grand Inquisatrix!

WHAT ARE MY QUALIFICATIONS?

You think YOU hate spam? You don’t even know what hate is!

I hate spam so much that I… well, just a LOT! That’s how much!

If I hated spam any more than I already do, I think my head would burst into flames and spin like a top! Can you say that?

Don’t think so.

I don’t mean to say that I don’t hate other things, too, like pedophiles and Nazis and that drunk guy who backed over my cat when I was seven.

But spam… hooboy!

SQUISH ‘EM LIKE BUGS!

I believe we should have a constitutional amendment allowing cruel and unusual punishment in the case of spammers. Maybe that tummy thing like the Japanese do when they get depressed.

As with drugs, mere possession of bulk emailing software should result in the immediate confiscation of the computer it was on, as well as any nice clothes, jewelry, or lawn statuary that might have been purchased with spam profits.

Just thinking about sending spam should be illegal, like joking about bombs in an airport. If I get to be Grand Inquisatrix, I’ll have my own force of men-in-black dudes to sniff out spamsters and be really mean to them and call them names until they promise to be good little Netizens again.

It’s for their own good.

IN CLOSING…

Having looked at the Websites of some of the anti-spam crusaders, I know that I am not alone in my revulsion, disgust and utter skin-crawling contempt for spam.

Like them, I have turned a blind-eye to more mundane problems like hunger, illiteracy, disease, country music and poverty so as to focus on the true menace plaguing our cyber-society.

If you wish to support my crusade, you may do so by sending me $99, and as a free gift I’ll send you a CD with the email addresses of 40 million Netizens eagerly awaiting news of your latest product or service.

DUMB HOST

OK, now let’s turn to the real bad guy in all of this. The webhost who shuts down a website on the grounds of nothing more than the say-so of an unverified spam complaint. In my case, it’s DumbHost but I know there are many other webhosts and ISPs out there who are just as irresponsible.

Here’s the email I received from DumbHost informing me my site had been shut down:

“To whom it may concern,

“We recieved [sic] the following spam complaint regarding ahbbo.com. Your domain will be temporarily disabled for 3 days. You can have your domain re-enabled at the end of this 3 day period by requesting so at enable@unsupportteam.net. If we continue to recieve [sic] complaints, action may be taken to disable your domain.

“Regards, Abuse Response Team”

Regards!

The email that followed was the one from WeStopSpam.net.

Note that my site was shut down because “[w]e recieved [sic] the following spam complaint regarding ahbbo.com”. Not because I had SPAMMED, mind you, but because DumbHost had received a spam COMPLAINT. The notification that my site had been disabled was the FIRST communication from DumbHost on the matter.

An appropriate response would have been: “We’ve received a complaint of spamming against you. We take all complaints of spamming very seriously. Please let us have your response to this complaint so we may take appropriate action”. But I guess that would have been too much like due process for DumbHost to want to bother with.

Here’s what followed:

From me to DumbHost:

“If you even bothered to read the “offending email” you will see that it came from so-and-so.com, NOT ahbbo.com. The publisher of the email in question reprinted one of my articles in his newsletter. That article contained a resource box which contained a link to my domain.

“If my site is shut down for ANY length of time as a result of this complaint, expect a lawsuit without further notice.”

Their reply (from “Level II Customer Care Representative” - ha!):

“Was this bulk mail authorized by you? This is considered an offense of our terms of service no matter where it originates as long as the email is sent or authorized by you. The email advertises your website, that is why your domain has been disabled for 3 days.

Regards, Abuse Response Team”

Me again:

“No! I’ve never heard of these people before. It is common practice for newsletter publishers to publish articles written by other people. The author’s resource box is always included at the end of the article. If this person’s newsletter went to someone who wasn’t subscribed, then it’s the newsletter publisher who should be reported for spamming, not the innocent author who is unfortunate enough to have their work reprinted.

“Did anyone even read the email concerned before shutting my site down? It’s obvious what happened. If my site is not reinstated today, I will be issuing legal proceedings tomorrow. “By the way, don’t you think your question should have been asked BEFORE shutting me down, not after?”

Them again:

“Okay, I was asked to take a look at your account, I will forward this information to abuse and they should get back to you shortly…

“Best regards,

Jordan M. Level II Customer Care”

(They apparently don’t use full names at Level II Customer Care. Can’t imagine why.)

Finally, this one from the “Abuse Response Team” at DumbHost:

“In light of this new information, I have gone ahead and re-enabled your domain. Be advised that any mass emails such as this will be considered a violation of our terms of service. You may want to take steps to ensure that services such as this are not sending out this kind of advertisement for your site.

Regards, Abuse Response Team”

Me:

“They did not send an advertisement for my site. My articles are publicly available for reprint, as are thousands of other authors’. It is usual practice for authors to give permission for reprinting provided the newsletter publisher publishes the author’s resource box at the end of the article. It’s a way of generating traffic to the author’s website.

“The author has no control over who uses the article in this way. Is a paying advertiser in an ezine shut down if the publisher of the ezine sends a spam email (assuming that it was spam in the first place)? … That policy makes no sense whatsoever.”

Them:

Nothing. Zip. Nada. No apology, no nothing.

Nice going DumbHost. You must be proud.

PLAN OF ACTION

My experience was pretty trivial in the scheme of things. I was able to get my site restored in just a couple of hours. Consider the damage that could be done to your business if that didn’t happen though. What would be the impact on YOUR bottom line if your site was shut down for 3 days? Or a week? Or for good?

So, what’s the innocent party to do in a situation like this?

Here’s one plan of action:

1. SUE irresponsible complainer for defamation. 2. SUE irresponsible spam police for defamation. 3. FIRE webhost. 4. SUE fired webhost for lost profits.

THE SOLUTION

I for one am not generally in favor of government regulation when it comes to the Internet. This is one area, however, in which I must say some form of governmental control should be taken. Where else but online can you have a situation where it’s commonplace for someone to take punitive action against an innocent bystander BEFORE giving them a fair hearing? Where else but online can ignorant and/or malicious individuals be allowed to cause such injury to someone else’s livelihood without being called to account? Try that in the real world and you’ll be answering a charge of vandalism, defamation and trespass to goods just to start.

It’s high time someone took a balanced approach to the issue of spam and recognized that, although spam is an undeniable problem, so too are anti-spam zealots and plain malicious types who think it’s sport to trash some innocent person’s business and reputation. They should be held to account for the damage they cause.

In addition, in recognition of this unfortunate fact of online life, a fact, I might add, of which webhosts are only too well aware, webhosts should also be held accountable for shutting down livelihoods based only on the prosecution’s case in chief. The defense is entitled to be heard and any conviction that results from a one-sided hearing is nothing short of an abject denial of due process. The legal profession can’t get away with that. Why the hell should webhosts?

——

* Fictionalized names.

Are you Good Spam or Bad Spam? This is the question I find echoing in my head sometimes when I am going through my email, as if it is part of some electronic Wizard of Oz. Have you ever given any thought to the fact that there really is a difference in spam? Not that I am defending anyone, but let me make my point and then you can decide for yourself.

Spam is such a hot issue and no one knows the “right” view of spam that fits everyone. You either: - will take all measures to prevent people from sending it to you - don’t mind it at all and happily delete, delete, delete every day - OR hate it sometimes and ignore it other times.

I think I fall in the last category, which is what started me thinking about good and bad spam. My point of view has now developed into this:

BAD Spam- It is bad spam when you reply to it to be removed and it is returned to you because the address is made up. It is bad spam when the removal link does not open a real url. It is bad spam when you paste the message source into Spam Cop and the info you get back before clicking the “Send spam report” shows tons of dead ends and made up domains, etc.

This means that this “Cowardly Lion” harvested your address, and went to great lengths to cover their tracks in order not to get caught sending spam.

GOOD Spam- It is good spam when there is an actual person on the other end, apologizing for inconveniencing you. What made it good spam? Because here is spam that you most likely will not get again, because it is more legit then the bad spam. These people are not out to break any rules, upset anyone, or ruin your day. 9 times out of 10 they really don’t know any better and will learn, very quickly I might add.

Also, keep in mind that the Scarecrow in us does not ALWAYS remember every email we sign up for. It is possible to have signed up for something and a week later be flipping out because you are getting email from some unknown. If we only had a brain sometimes (Speaking for myself, of course).

It is also highly possible that someone is having fun subscribing you to things. Never count that one out, it happens all of the time.

GOOD vs BAD Personally, I would much rather get good spam. Bad spam demonstrates that the sender KNOWS what is not acceptable and went to all of this trouble and expense to hide behind this long trail of fake addresses. That they took the time to do that is malicious, in my way of thinking. Do they really think that what they are trying to sell in this manner is actually worth it? These are the people we should be upset with. These are the people that we need to be telling, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little server too!”

So, whether you agree or disagree, just try to keep in mind that 1. The whole world is not out to get you. 2. Not every piece of spam is sent with the same intent. And… 3. As the world around us continues to change, we will be seeing more and more companies resorting to sending their junk mail through email rather then the post office. (I think this is becoming a more desirable thing to us all, as it would be much safer.)

Now is the time to try to adjust our view and approach the issue with a level head. If we don’t we will drive ourselves mad, and for what purpose? The changes in our world cause the internet to change. Soon you probably will find yourself saying, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”.