(SARASOTA, Fla. - Aug. 28, 2008 - One You Security) Last week, a widely cited, running tally of reported data breaches involving personal consumer information indicated that the number to date in 2008 had already surpassed the total for 2007. The pace of reported data breaches suggested that the final number for 2008 would be at least one-third greater than last year's. Furthermore, the total number of records containing sensitive personal information involved in security breaches in the United States since January 2005 had surpassed 235 million as of Aug. 19, according to another source. With much of the data containing Social Security numbers, consumers need to invest in protective services that allow them to transform their information into something useless to financial fraudsters, said Robert Siciliano, widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security, LLC

"It's unfair that consumers must cede control of their personal information to organizations, when these organizations seem to lose the data on any given day of the week," said Siciliano. "But it's an unpleasant reality unchangeable at the moment. In the meantime, and for the foreseeable future, the best way for consumers to take back some control over their identifying data is to enroll in a service that keeps an eye on the information afterward and does everything it can to render their Social Security numbers useless to financial fraudsters"

Subscribers to One You Security receive newsletters and special alerts from Siciliano. Through these, they get the latest information on data breaches and learn more about identity theft prevention. Chief security analyst for One You Security and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report's editorial board, Siciliano regularly discusses data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC's "Today Show," FOX News Network and elsewhere

Last week, the Identity Theft Resource Center revealed that its tally of the number of reported data breaches in 2008 had reached 449 as of Aug. 22, three more than the total for the entire year of 2007. The pace suggested that the final number for 2008 would be more than one-third higher than last year's. Furthermore, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, the total number of records containing sensitive personal information involved in security breaches in the U.S. since January of 2005 had reached 236,805,918 as of Aug. 9, 2008

"No matter how consumers look at it, the volume of breaches has been breathtaking," said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. "While it is certainly unacceptable that organizations in possession of their customers' personal information lose it with such alarming frequency, consumers' only real recourse is to invest in protection after the fact. Fortunately, One You is a viable choice for them. One You's service not only dredges the Internet every day to unearth the online haunts where thieves post stolen, personal information, but also renders consumers' Social Security numbers functionally useless to these same thieves, who would otherwise use the information to commit financial fraud"

Consumers who choose One You Security do so in part because the company strives to transform their Social Security numbers into meaningless strings of digits of no use to thieves. The firm backs all its offerings with a 100 percent service guarantee

YouTube video shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how the ubiquity of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers helps thieves online and off-line. A collection of videos at VideoJug features Siciliano sharing advice on how consumers can protect themselves from identity theft and fraud

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About One You Security, LLC

Sarasota, Fla.-based One You Security's mission is to eliminate the threat and consequences of identity theft. For just $10 per month, anyone can sign up for One You Security's identity theft protection service, a proactive, preventative approach whereby the company activates and manages its customers' fraud alerts with major credit bureaus. Subscribers also receive full access to ongoing education from identity theft protection expert Robert Siciliano, chief security analyst for One You Security, which backs up its promise to protect clients' financial identities with a 100 percent service guarantee. To sign up for One You Security, dial 1-800-434-2010

About IDTheftSecurity.com

Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, chief security analyst for One You Security, and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report's editorial board, makes it his mission to educate Fortune 500 companies and their clients on the dangers of identity theft. Author of "The Safety Minute: 01" and leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, "FOX News," "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition" The Privacy Learning Institute features him on its Website. Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman's Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. Visit Siciliano's Web site, YouTube page, and blog

The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:

Chris Harris

President & CEO of One You Security

PHONE: 941-342-0500 (x231)

chris@oneyou.com

http://www.oneyou.com

Robert Siciliano

Chief Security Analyst for One You Security

PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)

FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)

RobertSiciliano@OneYou.com

Brent Skinner

President & CEO of STETrevisions

PHONE: 617-875-4859

FAX: 866-663-6557

BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com

http://www.STETrevisions.com

Brent Skinner's Blog