According to a study by Javelin Strategy & Research, 12.6 Americans were victims of identity theft and predators stole over $21 billion in 2012 alone. While many companies from big retailers to mom and pop shops have privacy measures in place to protect your online purchases and personal information, it’s not ironclad. Just look at Target’s 2012 identity theft fiasco resulting in about 40 million credit and debit card accounts illegally accessed.
There are ways to stay on top of identity theft alerts, online scams and company’s privacy updates. While companies may boast their own updates and security measures, it’s hard to know who is being forthright. Privacy and security isn’t always a simple matter. Complex legalities and an ever-changing landscape of best practices make it difficult to keep up with. But there are a handful of companies to follow on Twitter that release easy, bite-sized updates with links or supporting information. Here’s a list of where to look.
Lifelock
Follow @Lifelock to get privacy and security updates from companies from Facebook to small retailers. While you can go straight to Facebook or Twitter itself to see what its security updates, a third party like LifeLock offers an objective look. Lifelock also Tweets about hackers breaching security of apps like Snapchat to prove a point. Other feeds cover how banks are seeing an increased security attack on call centers.
Lifelock, an identity theft protection company helps individuals protect themselves from identity theft and credit fraud. But they also alert you whenever your personal information is used to apply for any wireless services like mortgage loans or retail credit.
Identity Mate
See what’s popping up on the Twitter feeds at @IdentityMate. The company gives tips on protecting your online documents and information, but also Tweets about breaking news like banks looking at class action lawsuits to sue Target for their recent breach in security. They also Tweet about how identity theft can affect your credit score and computer pirates and issues of Internet ransom scams.
Identity Management Institute offers risk management training and certification focusing on identity theft, fraud, privacy and compliance. They also look at how to manage your identity theft risks and management practices across tarnished credit and image, lawsuits and penalties from regulatory violations among other issues.
Naked Security
This Twitter feed is run by Sophos, a company that makes malware protection software and internet security software. The posts include reminders of security upgrades and handy tips for protecting your computer and personal information. They tweet updates on new scams and threats to look out for, new innovations in security technology and the latest security news. The company can also be followed on Google+ and Facebook.
