Illegally downloaded music could result in identity theft, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

The newspaper reports that federal prosecutors believe Seattle resident Frederick Eugene Wood used peer-to-peer file sharing software — often used to illegally swap music and videos online — to steal identifying information from other users’ computers. He specifically targeted parents whose children downloaded file-sharing software and unknowingly opened their computers to anyone on the Internet.

Wood is accused of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and computer crimes for his alleged involvement in a long-running scheme during which he obtained the personal information of at least 120 people around the country. He faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted as charged.

The Eagle Tribune reports that a simple cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee helped crack an identity theft case.

A New Hampshire police officer was investigating the case of a woman’s personal information being used to buy a car. As the officer talked to a car salesman there, the salesman recalled that the woman who bought the car was drinking Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

The officer went to the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts shop and had the management run the shop’s surveillance video from that day. The woman was on the video, and police were able to identify her.

The victim had her pocketbook, which contained her license, credit cards and other valuable items, stolen last summer. This year, she received a bill from her insurance company for a car she did not own, a 1996 Ford Explorer. She contacted the police and they investigated her case.

According to Forbes, the House of Representative’s Committee on Homeland Security criticized credit card companies like Visa and MasterCard, which are responsible for creating and enforcing the Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards that failed to prevent many data breaches in the past few years.

Data breaches at Hannaford and Heartland were called out, as the companies complied with PCI rules and still suffered breaches. So the congressional panel said that the credit card companies’ security measures need to be redesigned or supplemented with federal laws–a potential crackdown that could require changes on the part of both retailers and financial services companies.

“I don’t believe that PCI standards are worthless,” said Rep. Yvette Clark, D-N.Y., who led the hearing. “But I do want to dispel the myth once and for all that PCI compliance is enough to keep a company secure. It is not.”

Clark called for changes to the standards that included better encryption of data, more frequent updates to the rules to keep up with constantly shifting cybercriminal tactics and new technologies for preventing identity theft like “chip and PIN” cards–a system currently used in Britain that checks personal identification numbers against a tiny microchip in the card itself.

Carrie-Ann Skinner of PC Advisor reports that rise in rogue security software programs online may be due to the publicity of the Conficker virus.

In Microsoft’s Security Intelligence Report, which charts the biggest threats to PC users, Microsoft said that hoax security software is on the rise. While the media attention given to Conficker helps Microsoft urge PC users to install security updates to protect themselves, it has also allowed cyber criminals to piggy back on the threat, offering hoax security software to cautious web users.

The report also highlighted that while consumers have successfully installed security updates to patch application and OS vulnerabilities, many businesses have yet to roll-out the updates to staff, ensuring they have been hit hard by Conficker and other viruses.

According to Sun-Sentinel.com, identity thieves are increasingly preying on unsuspecting job seekers by stealing personal information and using it to commit identity theft.

Identity thieves use all types of scams, including fake help-wanted ads, job-search services, and resume-posting Web sites, to trick people into handing over their data.

“There are so many people out there who are desperate to find a job,” said Linda Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit watchdog group. “Unfortunately, identity thieves are taking advantage of people in these uncertain times.”

Whether you’re registering with employment agencies, responding to ads, posting resumes or surfing career sites for work, it’s important to only give out your Social Security numbers and other personal data when it’s necessary and you’re sure it’s secure.