Identity Theft Expert and Laptop Computer Security: CTO of MyLaptopGPS Discusses Laptop Thefts Involving Oklahomans' Data Records
Dan Yost, chief technology officer of the laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS, appeared on several news media outlets this month to discuss the impact of recent government laptop thefts in Oklahoma.

BOSTON, MA, May 20, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dan Yost, chief technology officer of the laptop computer security firm MyLaptopGPS, appeared on several news media outlets this month to discuss the impact of recent government laptop thefts in Oklahoma. Nearly 1.25 million unique data records on Oklahoma citizens went missing because of apparently lax security leading to the loss of two state mobile computers. In his various news media appearances since, Yost has noted the potentially catastrophic financial fallout of data losses such as these and stressed that the single most effective laptop theft deterrent is laptop tracking technology, which MyLaptopGPS provides in the form of Internet-based GPS.

"A mobile computer is stolen every 12 seconds, and now the State of Oklahoma has become a victim of this statistic more than once," said Yost, who invited readers to follow MyLaptopGPS' laptop computer security blog and laptop computer security posts at Twitter. "Every time a laptop computer containing citizens' information is stolen, the financial ramifications for the affected organization (this time, government) can be catastrophic. Just the cost to mail notification letters, for instance, can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The alternative, installing proper laptop security technology on machines containing constituents' sensitive data, is inexpensive and money well spent."

Yost's expertise has been featured twice in CXO Europe. Furthermore, in December of 2008, he and widely televised and quoted identity theft expert Robert Siciliano co-delivered a presentation titled "Information in the Modern Age: Maintaining Privacy in an Era of Medical Record Identity Theft" at the 4th Annual World Healthcare Innovation & Technology Congress in Washington, D.C., where Former U.S. Congressman Newt Gingrich delivered the keynote address.

Reported in April, the loss of a total of two laptop computers belonging to the Oklahoma state government resulted in the attendant loss of close to 1.25 million unique data records on Oklahoma residents. First, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services revealed that a laptop containing highly sensitive information about approximately one million Oklahomans was stolen from an employee's car. Then, the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency lost to thieves a mobile computer containing the private data of up to 225,000 Oklahomans.

Yost's response to these thefts in his company's home state appeared in news media outlets several times. With Rep. Jason Nelson and Rep. Jason Murphey, Yost also spoke at a related press conference at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Furthermore, in a letter to the editor of his that appeared in Tulsa World, Yost noted the role that laptop security technology could have played in preventing or greatly mitigating these thefts' impact.

Featured in Inc. Magazine and TechRepublic, MyLaptopGPS maintains the Realtime Estimated Damage Index (REDI ), a running tally of highly publicized laptop and desktop computer thefts and losses and these losses' associated costs. Since the beginning of 2008, 4,291,909 data records associated with laptop theft have been lost, according to the REDI at MyLaptopGPS' website. A log of these high-profile laptop thefts is available.

"Once again, a large, public organization has failed to safeguard its constituents' information," said Siciliano, who endorses MyLaptopGPS and is CEO of identity theft protection firm IDTheftSecurity.com. "The alternative is to invest in and install inexpensive, effective laptop computer security technology. Doing so is in fact simple and runs a high likelihood of preventing laptop theft—which, we've seen, is fraught with financial headaches."

YouTube video shows Siciliano on a local FOX News affiliate discussing the importance of securing mobile computing devices on college campuses, where laptop theft can run rampant. To learn more about identity theft, a major concern for anyone who's lost a laptop computer or other mobile computing device to thieves, readers may go to video of Siciliano at VideoJug.

Anyone who belongs to LinkedIn is encouraged to join MyLaptopGPS' laptop computer security group there. They may download a demo of MyLaptopGPS, as well, and have the opportunity to read one of two reports tailored to the type of organization they run.

Press Release Contact Information:

John Dunivan
MyLaptopGPS
Media Relations
P.O. Box 15145
Boston, MA
USA 02215
Voice: (405) 747-6654
Fax: 877-232-9669
Website: Visit Our Website