http://www.techweb.com/tech/security/20021211_security
Time To ID Identity-Theft Solutions By Larry Lange "Identity-Theft Reports Soar!" "Internet Makes It Easier To Steal ID!" "Personal Data In Danger!" Those were the headlines back in 2000, when the Federal Trade Commission noted the spike in ID theft. Things sure have changed since: The situation has gotten much worse. Forget for a moment (if you can) the recent scam involving the theft of more than 30,000 credit reports. A study by Meridian Research predicts that by 2006 nearly a million people a year could find themselves victims of ID theft, with losses adding up to $8 billion annually. Software vendors and standards groups are moving into action. New gear targets insider hacking (where much of the theft begins), while Oasis has ratified the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), which governs how apps can exchange security information via XML. But these are baby steps. Worse, the government seems completely lost: The FTC merely offers a toll-free number (1-877-ID-THEFT), and the Justice Department provides an online quiz about ID theft (http://www.usdoj.gov/ criminal/fraud/idquiz.pdf). Wowie. Some security insiders say that with more and more personal information residing on networks, identify theft may be unavoidable. But if the only advice they can offer is "get used to it," then maybe it's time to ID a new set of experts. ... snip
