Did you know that unsolicited mail, such as pre-approved credit offers, is not only a huge nuisance and waste of natural resources, but also a major privacy risk. More than ever, consumers need to take control over their mailbox. To support this goal, TrustedID is proud to announce that we’re acquired Catalog Choice, the nation’s largest mail preference service.

Catalog Choice is a no-brainer for us when it comes to increasing our broad suite of identity protection. It brings a variety of new features to the TrustedID family, including:
• A free membership program;
• Premium services; and
• Community partnerships

Simply stated, Catalog Choice gives consumers an easy option to opt out of unwanted mail to protect their privacy and reduce paper waste. The addition of Catalog Choice will help us to continue development of value-added services that help consumers protect their privacy and identity.

So just who is Catalog Choice? If you haven’t already heard of them, you might want to learn more about what they can do for you. In short, they prevent unwanted mail, which is something we all can benefits from. With more than 1.5 million consumers already using Catalog Choice to stop unwanted mail, it’s hard to ignore the benefits.

In addition to its free consumer service, Catalog Choice partners with some 100 cities around the U.S. to:
• Help merchants use Catalog Choice to manage their subscription preferences and maintain best practices in their customer contact communications.
• Create customized mail preference programs that help local municipalities achieve zero waste goals by empowering citizens to reduce unwanted advertising mail.

The TrustedID team is excited to bring Catalog Choice into its family of identity protection services. To support our new development, 100 percent of the proceeds from the acquisition will go to the Catalog Choice Foundation – a nonprofit that will provide grants to worthy projects that help people reduce unwanted mail and save natural resources.

The Catalog Choice service will continue to operate at www.catalogchoice.org and in association with communities across the nation. Existing and new Catalog Choice users will have full access to the free opt-out service and MailStop™ solutions—including MailStop Mobile, MailStop Envelopes and MailStop Shield.

Do you consider unsolicited mail a risk to your identity? Tell us your thoughts on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We’re always up for some good conversation!

Popularity: 16% [?]

With 2.1 billion people actively using the Internet, according to numbers from traffic site Pingdom , Internet users now account for 30 percent of the planet’s population. Security experts estimate that:

• Tens of millions and possibly hundreds of millions of bot-infected computers are roaming the Internet, looking for vulnerabilities in these people’s computers or counting on them to be careless when opening a malicious URL.
• Between one-quarter and one-third of all home computer systems are already infected with some type of malware.
Cybercriminals use various types of malware to cause harm to its victims in varying degrees, ranging from minor annoyance (such as pop-up ads in your browser) to major financial loss (if scammers get a hold of your customers’ credit card or banking details and commit fraud).

To combat malware of all shapes and forms, here’s the top 5 types of software you install today:

1. An updated operating system: Windows updates will automatically notify you of updates, or even automatically download and install updates.
2. An updated browser: Whether you use Internet Explorer or Safari (or whatever you like, really), it’s important to keep it updated to prevent infection. Always use your browser’s safety features, such as pop-up blocking, download screening, and automatic update features.
3. Antivirus software: You must run an antivirus program (preferably with ant-malware capabilities) to be safe. Keep it updated, turned on, and schedule a scan to run regularly.
4. Firewall: You can use a third-party firewall or just use Windows Firewall.
5. Spam filter: If your email provider doesn’t prevent spam from entering your in-box, consider additional spam filtering software.

Popularity: 36% [?]

The 2011 Data Breach Notifications Report from Massachusetts’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation revealed a scray fact: Nearly half of the area’s residents have had personal information lost or stolen as a result of about 1,800 data breaches over the past four years. It’s no longer a case of what will you do IF you data if stolen; it’s more like what will you do WHEN your data is stolen.

Unfortuantely, once your private data is compromised, there’s not a whole lot you can do. That’s why prevention is key to safety. Here are some tips to help you protect your data from falling into the wrong hands:

1. Close any old accounts. If you gave up your Yahoo email account for Gmail, or traded MySpace for Facebook, it’s time to get rid of your old accounts. The less information you keeo online, the better.
2. Use smart passwords and don’t re-use them. In particular, avoid re-using your primary email account password. The primary email account can be used to reset other accounts such as banking and social networks.
3. Watch out for phishing scams. Phishing is an email-based social engineering attack in which scammers attempt to get your credentials or personal data by sending you to malicious sites or getting you to open files containing malware. Always verify the sender’s email address or hover over any links to preview the destinations.

These three simple tips will go a long way in protecting your personal data from being breached.

Popularity: 41% [?]

Every time you visit a website and send an email or Instant Message, watch a video, or make a purchase, your information is stored to create a digital profile about your consumer habits, behaviors, and preferences.

If you visited any of the places below, you left a digital footprint:

• Search engines
• E-commerce websites
• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media websites
• Email
• Online ads
• Chat rooms
• Blogs
• Job websites
• Skype or other instant messaging (IM) tools
• YouTube videos

Get the picture? This list could go on and on but we have more to discuss. The bottom line is that you leave your digital footprint everywhere you go. Whether looking for a job or building up your career, it is important for your online image to represent you professionally and consistently. Because the Internet can track you in so many way, it’s important to protect your privacy. Check out our recently acquired Reppler technology to see how you can protect your online reputation.

Popularity: 25% [?]