Kroll Cyber Security Blog – A Dialogue on Data Security

The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) are encouraging consumers and small business owners across the country to fight identity theft by taking part in the 3rd Annual Protect Your Identity Week (PYIW), October 17-23. Awareness events like this are important because they bring to the forefront information about the various myths and misunderstandings associated with this prevalent crime. There are reasonable responses to the threat, but sometimes it is difficult to discern what’s helpful and what’s not. That’s why, this week, the Investigators at Kroll would like to offer up daily tips and insights to help you achieve the proper mindset when it comes to safeguarding against identity theft.

Are point-of-service attacks occurring more frequently? It would seem that way, given the continued media reports of ATM skimming and point-of-sale electronic device swap within the U.S. this year. Bankinfosecurity.com has been tracking this phenomenon and has pointed to more than 40 incidents this year alone.

In an article from Bankinfosecurity.com, it’s speculated that one of the reasons this type of attack has gained popularity, at least in the US, is because the use of standard magnetic strip technology is still the norm, whereas other countries have transitioned to newer technologies such as chip and PIN. This could in fact be a significant factor, as identity thieves tend to look for the weakest link, and exploit it to the best of their ability.

I’d like to share a recent event that really made me think about the many seemingly insignificant things we can do to protect our identities and sideline theft, yet through carelessness or lack of knowledge, we just don’t give security a chance.