PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST v3.0Trends & Insights to Keep You Less Vulnerable

Published July 2019Compiled and distributed by

T H I R D E D I T I O N

2PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

You might feel pretty confident that you can easily navigate today’s volatile digital environment in the wake of the daily data breaches and cybercrimes. What we’re seeing here at Sontiq is actually fatigue and indifference to breach news. Not every breach requires top tier media attention and consumer protection. However, we’re all recognizing the fact that there is no way to stop or completely prevent security incidents from happening at such a rapid clip. The public

is desensitized, and as a result, personal and confidential information is being left exposed to theft and fraud. And when something does happen, victims are left on their own to repair the damage to what they’ve spent their entire life building.

In the first edition of Protecting What Matters Most, we explored the core areas of identity theft. A year later, in the second edition, we expanded our view to provide actionable items to protect yourself further. This year, we have completely reimagined what Protecting What Matters Most means — to become less vulnerable.

We need to start thinking differently about our identities, including whom we trust — and whom we shouldn’t — with our personal information, while also being prepared for the inevitable: a cyber or identity crime that can spiral into weeks, months, and years of recovery. Our third edition of our Protecting What Matters Most eBook provides a wealth of knowledge to help frame the landscape of what we should all be paying attention to when it comes to the security and privacy of our data in a constantly evolving digital world.

OWNING AN IDENTITY IS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY — AND WE’RE GIVING YOU THE TOOLS TO TREAT IT THAT WAY.

Sincerely,

Dale Dabbs | President & CEO | Sontiq

INTRODUCTION IT’S TIME TO BECOME LESS VULNERABLE

TIMES ARE CHANGINGWe know consumers want to be empowered to protect themselves and everything they’ve built, and they need to understand how and when a data breach impacts them directly in order to protect what matters most. Here are some resources to start using today:

• ID THEFT RESOURCE | Use the Breach Clarity tool to understand the risk you face when impacted by a data breach

• EMAIL COMPROMISE TOOL | Track your email address at HaveIBeenPwned to see if it’s been compromised as part of a breach

• CONSUMER TIPS & EDUCATION | Stay current with the latest information on identity scams and fraud protection with Fighting Identity Crimes Personal Protection Articles and IdentityForce Consumer Blog

• 9 TIPS FOR BREACH VICTIMS | Download this infographic for recommended actions to take if your identity has been impacted by a data breach

3PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

YOUR IDENTITY MATTERS TODAY, TOMORROW & THE FUTURE

WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU A lot goes into making us who we are. Here are some increasingly popular elements that can be used to identify you:

BIOMETRICS

Voice signatures, retinal scans, facial geometry, fingerprints, and DNA

PROPERTY

Your car’s VIN number or license plate, or title on a

home or business, tax records

HEALTH RECORDS

Medical ID number, health insurance data, patient records, prescriptions

SOCIAL MEDIA

Profile handles, photos, geo-location, connections,

interests

Identities are personal, clearly, just as much as the elements that make up our identities are unique. From our physical appearance to where we work and our ethnicity — to also our Social Security numbers (SSN), medical ID numbers, and fingerprints. And, criminals know how to capitalize on every component of our identity to commit fraud.

Businesses have identities, too, from Employer Identification Number (EIN) to D-U-N-S Number, and these elements are just as susceptible to theft and fraud and impact more than just the business — a security incident compromises the confidential information of customers, partners, and employees.

CONSIDERING WHAT IS AT STAKE, SECURING THESE PERSONAL OR BUSINESS IDENTIFIERS SHOULD BE TOP OF MIND. SO, WHY AREN'T THEY?

Frankly, most of us don’t realize just how often our sensitive personal data is collected or where it lives, never mind who is responsible for protecting it. Our data represents an intelligence goldmine for the companies that want to market and sell their products — and they’re willing to pay for it — to the tune of $19 billion. That’s how much U.S.-based companies spent to collect and analyze consumer data in 2018, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. It may be easier to avoid thinking about our digital identities at scale. Or, just accept the tradeoff, that we may be providing too much personal information and not really linking that to why we’ve all become more vulnerable — especially as we’re constantly flooded with the latest cyber threat du jour. But we need to.

No matter what stage of life we’re in, whether as individuals or a growing business, identity theft impacts everyone. Victims’ relationships with family, friends, coworkers, employees, bosses, and customers all become strained due to physical and financial stress, mitigation and remediation cost, and even broken trust. It’s our responsibility to protect these relationships by protecting the identity of ourselves and those in our support systems.

SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

77% Reported

INCREASED Stress Levels

CONSUMER COST

Average LOSSof $429

Per ID Theft Incident

LOST PRODUCTIVITY

6 MONTHS and

100 to 200 Hours Worth of Work

SOURCE | ITRC Identity Theft: The Aftermath 2018

SOURCE | The Federal Trade Commission’s 2017 Consumer Sentinel Network Report

SOURCE | Various Industry Stats

4PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

ONE FOR THE AGES DEFENDING THE DEFENSELESS

Identity theft is a lifelong threat, but some identities are more prone to attack. Children fall into this category with over 1 million having their identity stolen annually. Recent data also shows that two-thirds of victims are only 8 years old or younger. And, because children’s data isn’t typically monitored for suspicious activity, the fraud can go undetected for many years, making our youngest population the most appealing to identity thieves.

How does child ID theft happen? Well, a cybercriminal can infiltrate the network of a pediatrician’s office and steal the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) — names, dates of birth, and Social Security Numbers — of hundreds of children. They can use this data to perpetuate synthetic identity theft, creating an entirely new identity based on pieces of real information, to apply for government benefits, open credit cards, take out loans, or seek employment.

In an even more terrifying scenario, cybercriminals are selling off children’s datasets in bulk on the Dark Web, the anonymous areas of the internet where buying and selling of illegal information dominates and that can only be reached with special web browsers. These child ID packages are called “fullz” — a slang term for a file that contains enough elements of victims’ identity to commit fraud.

On the other end of the identity theft lifecycle, seniors represent the second-most vulnerable, and fastest-growing population targeted by scammers and ID thieves. Fraudsters prey on their trusting nature and unfamiliarity with technology to con the elderly out of cash, personal or medical information, or even retirement account numbers.

Older adults have accumulated a life’s worth of assets, they usually have little debt to their names, and are less likely to use credit. Just like child identity theft, senior fraud may go undetected, if not monitored regularly.

When a family member experiences a violation like identity theft, it affects everyone in the household. We can’t afford to leave our children’s futures, or everything we’ve built, at risk.

A DARK WEB POST ADVERTISING A DATABASE OF “FULLZ” SOURCED FROM PEDIATRICIAN RECORDS.

SOURCE | TheNextWeb

DECREASING VULNERABILITIES

FREEZE!

One year after the Equifax mega breach, on September 21st,

2018, a new law went into effect that allows parents to freeze their children’s credit for free, making it more difficult for new accounts to be opened in their name. Follow the process at each credit bureau to check for unexpected credit and put a freeze in place for a minor.

EMPOWER!

Talk to your older family members about the tricks fraudsters use

to steal their money or commit ID theft by phone and online. Here are some common scams targeting seniors, and tips to keep them protected.

SCAN!

Keep an eye on your data, and that of your loved ones, with proactive

Dark Web monitoring. This way you’ll receive an alert if your information has been potentially compromised, and you can take action by changing passwords and paying closer attention to financial, medical, and other critical accounts for fraudulent activity.

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IT’S HAPPENING ON MAIN STREET SMALL BUSINESS ID THEFT

3 TIPS FOR ADDED SECURITY

TRAIN EMPLOYEES ON DIGITAL BEST PRACTICES

Starting with the onboarding process, educational programs can help safeguard against data breaches

generated by employee negligence. Here are 5 training keys for cyberattack defense to help you get started.

MONITOR YOUR BUSINESS CREDIT SCORE

Any unexpected fluctuations on your company’s credit report could be an indication of fraudulent activity.

ENCRYPT ALL DATA THAT YOU COLLECT

As a small business, it's important to protect all sensitive business, employee, and customer data.

This means encrypting it in use, in motion, and at rest — meaning while being accessed by or passing through your systems or being stored within a hard drive. Mitigate your risk by creating a data security plan that covers:

• Types of data you use, save, or send, including encryption for each phase

• Defined user purpose and controlled access to database(s)

• Meeting regulations and standards for data protection in your state

As we mentioned earlier, owning an identity is a serious responsibility — and businesses have the added pressure of protecting the information of not only the business, but also its employees, customers, and partners. There are 30.2 million Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), defined as companies with less than 500 employees, operating in the United States. And, SMBs employ almost half of working adults, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

When businesses grow, the data they are responsible for protecting increases as well. Cybercriminals have taken notice, and SMBs have become one of their favorite targets for stealing data or using them as a stepping-stone to infiltrate larger enterprises. Business networks are generally much larger than an individual’s, meaning customers, vendors, partners, employees, family members — essentially everyone tied to the company — may be negatively impacted by an identity crime.

BIGGEST CYBERSECURITY THREAT

Employee negligence remains the leading cause of data breaches, according to a Shred-it report.

SMBs appear to be indifferent and desensitized toward the inevitability of a malicious attack. This reinforces the need to pay attention to the details that matter so we are all less vulnerable.

48% of small businesses think they are TOO SMALL to be a target of online fraud.

65% FAIL TO ACT following a cybersecurity incident.

72% are NOT CONFIDENT in their ability to combat the cyber risks they face.

SOURCE | The 2018 State of Cybersecurity in Small and Medium Size Businesses, Ponemon Institute

Small businesses experience the majority (58%) of DATA BREACHES, AND 67% have faced a CYBER ATTACK in the last 12 months.

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ANYWHERE, ANYTIME EXPOSURE DATA COLLECTION SURROUNDS US

Every personal or professional interaction we have leaves a trail of data. Modern devices collect and share your information to analyze your behavior and interests, with the intent to personalize every digital experience. In our “smart” homes we have thermostats, TVs, security systems, lighting, appliances, and virtual assistants. We connect to the Internet through our cars and navigate our way using GPS systems. And, with our every movement, our smartphones and fitness apps trace our steps and record our biometric data.

All of this information helps to comprise the Internet of Things (IoT) and paints a powerful digital picture of who we are, what we’re doing, and where we’ve been — even where we’re likely to go next. It’s why we need to pay attention to what is collected, who is using it, and what threats its exposure may pose to you, your family, or your business.

Threats from IoT devices have always exposed consumers to identity theft and fraud, but it’s not just individual identities being endangered by these smart devices.

TESTING THE FENCES

Here are a few examples of how cybercriminals are reimagining ways to turn devices against businesses, hospitals, and government agencies:

• IoT devices can be weaponized in disruptive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks that block online services and wreak havoc on operations.

• Employees’ smartphones are being targeted with phishing attacks to install malware on network servers.

SAFEGUARDING OUR DIGITAL IDENTITIES

ON THE DEFENSE

Whether we’re at work or at home, at the doctor’s office or on the go, it's important to be aware of the networks we connect to, links we click on, and personal information we share. Follow these tips to better understand where your data goes, and how to protect it.

FOR EMPLOYERS

Invest in mobile threat defense to monitor employee devices for risks to your network

Make sure any enterprise devices you use adhere to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) guidance for IoT devices to only perform their intended functions and avoid

unintentional data collection

Prepare a data breach response plan so that

everyone knows what to do if the worst were to happen

AT HOME

Request a copy of your IoT device recordings, such as those from Amazon Alexa

Adjust your social media privacy settings

Test your password strength, and sign up for a password manager to keep them secure

IT security professionals rank

MOBILE DEVICES as the

HARDEST THREAT to defend against, with

74% saying they’ve directly led to a

DATA BREACH.

SOURCE | Buying Into Mobile Security, IDG

7PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

THINKING DIFFERENTLY WE CAN ALL BE LESS VULNERABLE

Awareness is the first step in addressing any problem. We know there are a multitude of ways fraudsters compromise us, our family members, and our businesses, and now’s the time to start thinking differently about how our identities are intertwined with our digital lives.

To become less vulnerable, we must use caution about where, when, and with whom, we share our personal information.

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO DETERMINE YOUR VULNERABILITY Tally the red answers to determine your risk level

1 – 3 = Low Risk4 – 6 = Moderate Risk7 – 10 = High Risk

1. Do you receive alerts to stay aware of the latest consumer scams? YES NO

The FTC publishes scam alerts and you can sign up for email updates.

2. Have you received a data breach notification in the past 12 months? YES NO

One in three data breach victims later go onto experience identity crimes.

3. Have you disposed of personal or financial documents in the trash? YES NO

Dumpster diving and mail theft remain prevalent.

Always shred sensitive documents.4. Is your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on the Dark Web? YES NO

Identity protection services may include a Dark Web scan

so you can find out if your PII is for sale.5. Have you removed yourself from public databases?

YES NO

Data brokers collect and share our information without our knowledge.

Opt out here.6. Does your employer collect data on your work performance?

YES NO

More than half of businesses do not ask for consent to do so.

Talk with your HR or IT leaders to understand what information is being

collected, how it’s used, and how it’s protected.7. Do you know what permissions you’ve granted your mobile apps? YES NO

Many can access your microphone, camera, etc., and share with third parties.

Check your app settings and restrict unnecessary access.

8. Have you received a phishing email at work?

YES NO

Even if you recognized the signs and didn’t click, there’s a chance that one

of your colleagues or family members may have. Be proactive anytime

you suspect a phishing scam.9. Is your payment card or bank account tied to a mobile payment app? YES NO

Use a passcode on your device and strong passwords for each bank account.

If your device is lost or stolen, contact your bank and disconnect

mobile access from your accounts.10. Have you shared your Social Security Number over the phone? YES NO

48 billion robocalls were made in 2018, with 37% of those known to be scams.

Remember, if you get a legitimate call from the U.S. government, they will not

require you to provide your SSN over the phone.

8PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

THE BALANCE SMALL BUSINESS What is Your D-U-N-S Number? https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-my-dandb-number-393461

BLOCK ADVISORS Small Business Identity Theft: Warning Signs and Protective Measures https://web.blockadvisors.com/business-identity-theft/

BUSINESSIDTHEFT.ORG What is Business Identity Theft? http://www.businessidtheft.org/Education/WhyBusinessIDTheft/tabid/85/Default.aspx

THE BUSINESS JOURNALS Amazon’s Alexa Approved to Share HIPAA-Regulated Health Information https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2019/04/amazons-alexa-approved-to-share-hipaa-regulated.html?page=all

CAMPAIGN FOR A COMMERCIAL-FREE CHILDHOOD Alexa, What are You Doing with Kids’ Data? https://commercialfreechildhood.org/blog/alexa-what-are-you-doing-kids-data

CBS NEWS I Asked Alexa and Google Assistant How to Find My Data. Here’s What They Said https://www.cbsnews.com/news/i-asked-amazon-alexa-google-assistant-how-to-find-my-data-heres-what-they-said/

CENTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS Five Signs of Small Business Identity Theft https://www.cfra.org/news/180123/five-signs-small-business-identity-theft-new-protection-methods

CHECK POINT RESEARCH Under the Hood of Cyber Crime: The Rise of Stealthy and Targeted Cyber Attacks https://research.checkpoint.com/2019-security-report-vol-2-under-the-hood-of-cyber-crime/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE When Alexa Listens, It Records. Amazon Wrongly Sent One Home’s Alexa Archive — 1,700 Audio Files — to a Stranger https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-alexa-privacy-recordings-germany-20181220-story.html

CIO 6 Steps to a More Secure IoT https://www.cio.com/article/3385059/6-steps-to-a-more-secure-iot.html

CNBC The Biggest Cybersecurity Risk to US Businesses is Employee Negligence, Study Says https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/21/the-biggest-cybersecurity-risk-to-us-businesses-is-employee-negligence-study-says.html Companies are Collecting More Data on Employees, and Not All Confident They are Doing it Responsibly https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/23/the-next-big-negotiation-with-a-boss-access-to-your-personal-data.html

CNN The Real Danger of Alexa Listening to Our Convos https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/26/perspectives/amazon-echo-listening-alaimo/index.html

CSO 7 Mobile Security Threats You Should Take Seriously in 2019 https://www.csoonline.com/article/3241727/7-mobile-security-threats-you-should-take-seriously-in-2019.html

The Internet of Things (IoT) — Threats and Countermeasures https://www.cso.com.au/article/575407/internet-things-iot-threats-countermeasures/

CYBERSECURITY VENTURES 60 Percent of Small Companies Close Within 6 Months of Being Hacked https://cybersecurityventures.com/60-percent-of-small-companies-close-within-6-months-of-being-hacked/

9PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

DOGTOWN MEDIA The Most Common IoT Cybersecurity Threats of 2019 https://www.dogtownmedia.com/the-most-common-iot-cybersecurity-threats-of-2019/

DUN & BRADSTREET What is a D-U-N-S Number? https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html

ERICSSON The Internet of Things Forecast https://www.ericsson.com/en/mobility-report/internet-of-things-forecast

EXPERIAN Child Identity Theft Campaign Overview https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/child-identity-theft-campaign-overview/

FAST COMPANY Supreme Court Rejects Amazon’s Zappos on Data Breach Lawsuit https://www.fastcompany.com/90324748/supreme-court-rejects-amazons-zappos-on-data-breach-lawsuit

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION Child Identity Theft https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0040-child-identity-theft Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule: A Six-Step Compliance Plan for Your Business https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-six-step-compliance

Fake Calls About Your SSN https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/12/fake-calls-about-your-ssn

Most Recent Scam Alerts https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts Scams Against Older Adults: Reporting to Congress https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/10/scams-against-older-adults-reporting-congress

Starting Today, New Federal Law Allows Consumers to Place Free Credit Freezes and Yearlong Fraud Alerts https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/09/starting-today-new-law-allows-consumers-place-free-credit-freezes

FORBES A Business is a Living Entity — How Do You Keep it Breathing? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/03/07/a-business-is-a-living-entity-how-do-you-keep-it-breathing/#1b1a0a9b2192

Amazon Slammed for Putting Kids at Risk with ‘Blatant Violation of Privacy Laws’ https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/05/09/amazons-echo-dot-kids-accused-of-violating-privacy-laws-and-putting-kids-at-risk/#33d69cb67e5a

Why There’s a More Important Wall that Needs to Be Built at Our Digital Border https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/04/16/why-theres-a-more-important-wall-that-needs-to-be-built-at-our-digital-border/#4bd585f84dda

GADGET HACKS 5 Ways to Keep Google from Collecting Data on Your Android Phone https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/5-ways-keep-google-from-collecting-data-your-android-phone-0181002/

THE HILL Twenty Years of Children’s Online Privacy Success Provides Blueprint for Comprehensive Public Policy https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/412587-twenty-years-of-childrens-online-privacy-success-provides-blueprint-for

HISCOX 2018 Hiscox Small Business Cyber Risk Report https://www.hiscox.com/documents/2018-Hiscox-Small-Business-Cyber-Risk-Report.pdf

IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCE CENTER 2018 End-of-Year Data Breach Report https://www.idtheftcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ITRC_2018-End-of-Year-Aftermath_FINAL_V2_combinedWEB.pdf

2019 Trends and Predictions for Identity Theft, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity https://www.idtheftcenter.org/2019-trends-and-predictions-for-identity-theft-data-privacy-and-cybersecurity/

The Aftermath: The Non-Economic Impacts of Identity Theft https://www.idtheftcenter.org/aftermath2018/

INTERNET LIVE STATS In 1 Second, Each and Every Second, there are… https://www.internetlivestats.com/one-second/

10PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST V3.0

IOT FOR ALL The 7 Most Common IoT Security Threats in 2019 https://www.iotforall.com/7-most-common-iot-security-threats-2019/

JAVELIN STRATEGY & RESEARCH 2018 Child Identity Fraud Study https://www.javelinstrategy.com/coverage-area/2018-child-identity-fraud-study

Child Identity Theft Hit More Than One Million U.S. Victims in 2017 https://www.javelinstrategy.com/node/59561

KREBS ON SECURITY Target Hackers Broke in Via HVAC Company https://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/02/target-hackers-broke-in-via-hvac-company/

MAYER BROWN President Trump Launches AI Strategy for Federal Government https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/perspectives-events/publications/2019/02/trump

MERITALK NIST Drafts IoT Security Guidance for Home and Small-Business Devices https://www.meritalk.com/articles/nist-drafts-iot-security-guidance-for-home-and-small-business-devices/

MONEY Here’s How Facebook or Any Other App Could Use Your Phone’s Microphone to Gather Data http://money.com/money/5219041/how-to-turn-off-phone-microphone-facebook-spying/

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES Data Security Laws | Private Sector http://www.ncsl.org/research/telecommunications-and-information-technology/data-security-laws.aspx

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) Securing Small-Business and Home Internet of Things (IoT) Devices https://www.nccoe.nist.gov/sites/default/files/library/sp1800/iot-ddos-nist-sp1800-15-preliminary-draft.pdf

THE NEXT WEB The Worrying Trend of Children’s Data Being Sold on the Dark Web https://thenextweb.com/podium/2019/02/23/children-data-sold-the-dark-web/

NINJA RMM 7 Eye-Opening Cybersecurity Statistics Every Small Business Needs to Know in 2019 https://www.ninjarmm.com/blog/small-business-cybersecurity-statistics-2019/

PONEMON INSTITUTE 2018 State of Cybersecurity in Small & Medium Size Businesses https://keepersecurity.com/assets/pdf/Keeper-2018-Ponemon-Report.pdf

PRIVACY RIGHTS CLEARINGHOUSE Data Breaches https://www.privacyrights.org/data-breaches

PROOFPOINT Global Cybersecurity Awareness Study Reveals 33 Percent of U.S. Respondents Have Experienced Identity Theft, More than Twice the Global Average https://www.proofpoint.com/us/newsroom/press-releases/global-cybersecurity-awareness-survey-reveals-33-percent-us-respondents-have

PYMNTS.COM Amazon Wants Alexa to Track Medicine, Provide Health Data https://www.pymnts.com/amazon-alexa/2019/amazon-alexa-medicine-health-data/

QUARTZ Your Phone Conversation Isn’t Really Spying on Your Conversations — The Truth Might Be Even Creepier https://qz.com/1609356/your-phone-is-not-recording-your-conversations/

SECURITY BOULEVARD Identity Theft and Financial Fraud in the Digital Age https://securityboulevard.com/2019/04/identity-theft-and-financial-fraud-in-the-digital-age/

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SECURITYINTELLIGENCE Data Breach Fatigue Makes Every Day Feel Like Groundhog Day https://securityintelligence.com/data-breach-fatigue-makes-every-day-feel-like-groundhog-day/

SIGNATURE ANALYTICS Employee Fraud is More Common in Small Businesses — Are You Protected? https://signatureanalytics.com/employee-fraud-common-small-businesses-protected/

SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS 48% of Businesses Think They’re Not Big Enough to Be Targeted for Fraud https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/03/small-business-fraud-statistics.html

TECHCRUNCH Smart Home Tech Makers Don’t Want to Say if the Feds Come for Your Data https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/19/smart-home-devices-hoard-data-government-demands/

TECHJURY How Many IoT Devices are There? https://techjury.net/blog/how-many-iot-devices-are-there/

TECHRADAR Are Our Phones Listening to Us? https://www.techradar.com/news/are-our-phones-listening-to-us

Evolution of Fraud in the IoT Era https://www.techradar.com/news/evolution-of-fraud-in-the-iot-era

UBUNTUPIT 25 Most Common IoT Security Threats in an Increasingly Connected World https://www.ubuntupit.com/25-most-common-iot-security-threats-in-an-increasingly-connected-world/

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 2018 Small Business Profile https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-US.pdf

VERIZON 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/dbir/

VICE Children’s Personal Data & SSNs Are Being Sold on the Dark Web https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmd78y/childrens-personal-data-social-security-numbers-dark-web

THE WASHINGTON POST Alexa Has Been Eavesdropping on You this Whole Time https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/05/06/alexa-has-been-eavesdropping-you-this-whole-time/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.359b4168957c

Report: Occupational Fraud is Siphoning ‘Staggering Amounts’ of Money from Small Businesses https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2018/04/19/report-occupational-fraud-is-siphoning-staggering-amounts-of-money-from-small-businesses/?utm_term=.881903bb1927

WBRC Has Your Child’s Identity Been Stolen? Find Out How to Protect Their Personal Information https://www.wbrc.com/2019/04/19/has-your-childs-identity-been-stolen-find-out-how-protect-their-personal-information/

ZDNET I Asked Apple for All My Data. Here’s What was Sent Back https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-data-collection-stored-request/

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© 2019 Sontiq, Inc. All other trademarks or trade names are properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

ABOUT SONTIQ

Sontiq, headquartered in Nottingham, MD, is a high-tech security and identity protection company arming businesses and consumers with award-winning products built to protect what matters most. Sontiq’s brands, EZShield and IdentityForce, provide a full range of identity monitoring, restoration, and response products and services that empower customers to be less vulnerable to the financial and emotional consequences of identity theft and cybercrimes. Learn more at www.sontiq.com or engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

”Our identities are the keys to so many different services, and that has made data breaches a fact of life in today's digital world. But fraud is not an inevitability if we each take action. FRAUDSTERS ONLY SUCCEED WHEN WE DON’T FIGHT BACK.“

AL PASCUAL, COO

”Given the inevitability of data breaches, the sophistication of cyber thieves, and the harmful impact identity crime has on businesses and individuals; IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A ROBUST CYBERSECURITY STRATEGY.“

Stacey Smith, President & CEO