Access Smart Views Impending U.S. Government Legislation to Reduce Identity Theft as One Step in Protecting ConsumersConsumers’ only real chance at protecting their data is to take responsibility for their own password management practices by using available security technologies
Ladera Ranch, CA — February 21, 2007 — Access Smart, LLC, the leading developer of data and security management solutions through the use of smartcard technology, announced today it applauds the recent measures that the U.S. Congress is taking to protect consumers and companies from identity theft but warns it is still the responsibility of all companies and individuals to proactively protect their data files. The Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act, The Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act and Cybersecurity Enhancement and Consumer Data Protection Act and other pending legislation are needed to notify individuals of their stolen identity, prohibit the misuse of one’s personal information, and deter criminals from stealing identities. These reactive bills, however, do not provide businesses or individuals with preventative identity theft protection tools. Passwords are the digital keys in accessing data files on the Internet or a computer and unless businesses and individuals manage their passwords appropriately, the cycle of identity theft will continue. A combination of strong complex passwords and heavily encrypted data files are required for the maximum protection in data security. “Our government may be doing their best to secure everyone’s identity, but it is ultimately one’s own responsibility to protect personal information," said Dovell Bonnett, Founder and CEO of Access Smart, LLC. “People see and hear about identity theft in newspapers and television yet they aren’t realizing all computers and security software have the imperfection of allowing unauthorized people to view personal information through poor password management." Passwords are used in more than 90 percent of all online and network security practices. Access Smart’s Power LogOn password management system, through the use of smartcard technology, allows users to generate effective passwords like “emFO%39iL5Nc305,9Z/4>6d" which is considered the strongest type of password. Power LogOn also holds all of one’s personal information such as passwords and credit card information on a 168-bit Triple DES encryption protected smartcard. Additionally, unlike a flash memory card, hard disk drive or external disk drive, the computer does not communicate to Power LogOn as a standard peripheral or storage device. The data on the smartcard is encrypted and requires the Power LogOn software to retrieve and decrypt the data. “It is the degree of security and reliability that truly differentiates Power LogOn from other security hardware or software systems," says Bonnett. “We truly are not protected from identity theft until we stop compromising the security of one’s personal information for simple convenience. With Power LogOn, one can have both security and convenience." Power LogOn’s smartcard is protected from viruses, worms and Trojan Horses attacks. This is verified by Elite Development Group (EDG), a leading Orange County security solutions provider, giving Access Smart’s Power LogOn password management system a security rating of four out of five Black Padlocks. EDG security technicians attempted to find security breaches in the Power LogOn system over a three-week period using a myriad of high-tech criminal scenarios that included reverse engineering, hardware hacking and keystroke logging software. Each method was deemed unsuccessful. Pricing and Availability: About Access Smart, LLC: Access Smart and Power LogOn are trademarks exclusively licensed to Access Smart, LLC. Other product names are either trademarks or trade names of their respective holders. ###
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