You're watching...
Identity theft expert John Sileo and Identity Theft 911 Chairman Adam Levin on reports government agencies will soon be able to view private financial...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
While many privacy advocates are speaking out on the issue two of them join me now John -- -- President affiliate group and Adam Levin founder and co chairman of identity theft 911.
-- let's start with yield is an invasion of privacy.
Our diet is -- question as an invasion of privacy and of course there will be people who will say they're balancing national security issues.
I -- privacy issues but I'm I'm always concerned that -- of the cloak of national security.
You have a situation where privacy is being eroded.
And again while it's important to have the ability to to do something when there is probable cause to do it.
When it's just sort of fishing expedition to becomes very scary and banks tend to over report to this network I believe in order to protect themselves -- and.
You know ought to be caught in the where legally required to report this information so obviously.
It it would make sense that they over report rather than under report John do you you say there's a lack of effectiveness to this what do you mean.
Yeah I mean edited to judgment -- Thomas point which is you've got to haystack of data here.
And that doesn't necessarily mean you're gonna find -- -- that terrorism of needle in that haystack.
To just just do it simply for the sake of having it.
Doesn't mean that it's going to be effective I think there needs to be a great deal of thought put into it and a lot of oversight.
Of of how this would work because listen it's not just privacy issue here it's a security issue are we.
Comfortable letting one governmental body have.
All of our records in one single location that's a little troubling and and like Adam said.
You know this is a balance here between every time we give up that we get a little bit more security think of TSA we give up a little bit of freedom.
And that's a really important balance to be.
Religious liberties -- -- v.s that's for sure yes in theory slope you know what a story this week.
Though that shows you the degree to which we are exposed to hackers who might want to take -- information.
Annual credit report dot com now this was the web -- that federal are required be set up so you can go in and get your credit report Equifax Experian and Trans Union.
All report into this annual credit report dot com it was hacked and information.
Other major celebrity.
Was was given -- it was unbelievable.
Beyoncé.
The president's wife Michelle Obama a number of people have personal data that went out to the public market place Adams CEO.
What did you make of the story.
Well what we're really.
Happen is it's less about hacking story.
And more.
Day and it improper use of information that may have been the fruit of hacking.
That was used to 240 authentication systems.
And and that's really the the -- did illustrates the larger point.
Which is there is so much information out there are about us that either we mistakenly give.
Or database is at it at -- go all levels of government and well as well as business have been hacked.
And and you know this this points out the fact that it's no longer an issue of if someone's gonna be a victim of identity theft.
So -- can't win wow okay what.
It's interesting because.
Essentially what these.
Fellas I assumed dead.
-- -- they went on the web -- and pretended that they we're Michelle Obama and filled out the forms to get their day that now some of the information they got back was accurate some of what was not here's what Equifax had to say about the data breach.
We are aware of recent media reports pertaining to unauthorized access to files belonging to high profile individuals.
Equifax can confirm that fraudulent -- unauthorized access to for consumer credit reports has occurred of course more names were reported -- John to yield.
What do you make of this story what is the lesson for consumers.
You know.
I think to some degree this is the same story we've been hearing for the last ten years.
It just so happens that it's it's -- -- to celebrities and stars and so we're -- really big attention to it and I think there's a lot to be learned there that.
-- we can we can take some steps now that we wouldn't have otherwise because it's getting some publicity that we hadn't had before.
Well what exception we take John to you first and then to Adam.
You bet I think number one is you know obviously be Wear what you share as Adams said this was a social hack.
Make sure that debt when you're putting that stuff up on FaceBook and filling in your profiles and and working on -- though the more you put up that the higher the risk you have.
Secondly you've got to pump up those passwords they've got to be long and strong and you got a -- site to site you can't use that same password.
-- -- -- or you're gonna get stung not just in one place but then they're gonna go to your bank and every place else.
And finally you gotta be a skeptical clicker you need you when you're clicking on what you think -- a link that a friend has sent you wanna FaceBook post or -- If it if it's too good to be true if it's too bad to be you know real.
And fits.
Did you say yeah click on -- -- -- out of character Adam what do you -- Well I think -- first you've got to minimize -- -- -- exposure and I agree with everything has been -- secondly you have to monitor seriously monitor and that is.
Going to places like annual credit report dot com thinking about getting credit fraud monitoring programs.
It rolling programs in banks and credit unions that notify you of when transactions occur until I have to pay for that -- -- can I get a break.
Well it you know that you can get with -- that you can get services freeware they will notify you when transactions occur.
Obviously credit and fraud monitoring you you really have to pay for you decide what you wanna pay for you can also go to sites where they have free credit reports that are really free.
By credit dot com where they they actually.
Give you access to information -- you consider monitor what's going on but then there's a really a third element you've got to have -- damage control program.
And many people don't realize they actually have those programs that that there -- insurance companies.
Banks credit unions employers offer.
Assistance if you're having a problem.
But and in many cases is free as a perk of the relate fly -- the area.
Freedom appeals to me thanks to both of you John -- -- for coming on tonight great conversation are very informative thanks so much.
Thanks.
