Security Watch: Security software for real-world threats

Security Watch: Security software for real-world threats
Robert Vamosi, Senior Editor


Security software for real-world threats
It turns out that the theft of veterans' personal information a few months ago included the personal information of up to 2.2 million active military personnel, including those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
While the number is large, it doesn't mean all 2.2 million will have their identities stolen, only that the potential for abuse exists. Sadly, the only definitive way to know whether your personal information is being used illegally is to sign up for an identity management service, a company that provides 24-hour tracking of illicit use of your credit card numbers. With Internet threats requiring you to buy computer security software for your PC, and with real-world theft causing you to purchase additional insurance from monitoring companies, protecting your identity both online and off can quickly become very expensive. What if I told you that this doesn't have to be the case? The most likely means by which you'll fall victim to identity theft include lost or stolen credit cards or wallets; intercepted transactions, such as when you hand your credit card to a careless waiter; or by friends and relatives with access.
It's a real-world problemA few weeks ago I was talking with John Gable and Jordy Berson, both of Zone Labs, maker of the popular ZoneAlarm personal firewall products. We were talking about the VA identity theft and personal theft. I think we all know of someone who has had their identity stolen in the last few years, if we have not experienced it ourselves. According to research from Javelin, the most likely means by which you'll fall victim to Identity theft include lost or stolen credit cards or wallets; intercepted transactions, such as handing your credit card to a careless waiter; or by friends and relatives with access. You might be surprised to learn that the threat from spyware and computer viruses was relatively low, ranking only 8 and 10 on Javelin's list.
It's a fact: most identity theft today still occurs in the real world, not online. So I joked with Gable and Berson, "Is ZoneAlarm now going to watch my mailbox at home and make sure no one steals any credit card applications?" Berson merely smiled, but Gable emphatically nodded and said, "Yes, we are."
ZoneAlarm has created an effective one-stop-shopping, ID-theft-prevention experience. While you're locking down your PC, why not also lock down your credit card numbers? One small step for security software. Zone Labs has released ZoneAlarm Pro 6.5 and ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6.5, the first security software apps I know of to offer real-world identity protection, monitoring, and recovery. By partnering with an identity management company, Intersections, Zone Labs is making the promise that it will educate you, provide you the services you need to stay safe online and off, and should someone steal your identity, the team will be there to help you recover with personal assistance. Had you purchased similar services from an identity management service directly, you could easily double the purchase price of ZoneAlarm Internet Security. But for ZoneAlarm Pro and Internet Security Suite customers, the monitoring is free.
Some of the identity-theft services within ZoneAlarm are free and currently available to non-ZoneAlarm customers as well, including government sites such as the Web site run by the Federal Trade Commission. But who's going to take the time to track down the one Web site that will keep credit card solicitations out of your physical mailbox? It exists but it's buried deep within the FTC.gov site, and most of us probably won't visit that site unless there's already been a theft. Recognizing this, ZoneAlarm has created an effective one-stop-shopping, ID-theft-prevention experience. While you're locking down your PC, why not also lock down your credit card numbers? Within the context of security, they've packaged several excellent resources (some of which require additional cost) so that you'll be more likely to act.
For whom?I've said it before, but I think all PCs with Internet connections should have a personal firewall installed. My favorite has been ZoneAlarm, simply because it's effective and very easy to use. By bundling identity-theft protection, ZoneAlarm Pro 6.5 or ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6.5 both make a perfect gift for your aging parents or for anyone you worry may fall victim to online phishing or physical identity theft. It's like buying insurance.
With increasing convergence among the larger security companies and with the emergence of Microsoft and even AOL into the security software space, ZoneAlarm needed to make a play to distinguish itself. I think it made the right call. What amazes me is that the big guys--McAfee and Symantec--didn't think of this first.

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