Free Shredding Event Tomorrrow!

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/free-miami-shredding-event-october-13th-2013-pr-493579.html

Miami, FL (1888PressRelease) October 04, 2013

Come to our free, secure and confidential paper and hard drive shredding event in Miami! Shredding documents is a key step in identity theft prevention.

When:
October 13th 2013
10am-2pm

Where:
North Miami Beach Police Department
16901 NE 19th Ave, North Miami Beach, FL 33162

* The limit of shredding is 5 boxes per person. Hard drive destruction is $10.00 each hard drive, paid in cash to MicroShred employees.

About MicroShred, LLC:
We provide certified paper and media shredding services and confidentially destroy all personal / business information under your supervision with our mobile shredding trucks.

MicroShred, LLC offers several types of shredding services depending on your needs. We use highly trained, responsible and bonded service personnel to handle your confidential data. They pass stringent background checks periodically and wear a MicroShred clearance badge. We provide free estimates and a 30 day risk free trial for qualified companies interested in our mobile route services.

Are your business computers and networks protected?

Business identity theft has become a real problem in todays marketplace. Any business that does not take steps to protect themselves is at risk. But why are criminals targeting businesses as opposed to individual consumers? The fact is, stealing from a business is much more cost-effective than stealing from an individual consumer. So, businesses must not take this threat lightly. Every business should have certain defenses in place in order to prevent falling victim to identity theft.

One of the most basic steps in protecting a business from identity theft is securing business computers and networks. Businessidtheft.org lists 5 ways a business can do this. Here is an excerpt from their website:

Restrict the use of your business computers to only business activities: Activities such as casual Internet surfing, use of social networks, online gaming, downloading programs, and file sharing expose your business computers to viruses, spyware, and other security risks that can jeopardize your business operations, your accounts, and the confidential information of your business, customers, and employees.

Install and use regularly updated anti-virus / anti-spyware / Internet security software: Effective anti-virus, anti-spyware, and Internet security software programs are essential. Don’t rely on free software to protect your business. Be certain to utilize a program that actively scans and is frequently updated to keep up with new threats.

Keep security patches and updates up-to-date: It is critically important to regularly check for and install any security updates for your computer’s operating system and internet browser program to ensure that you have the latest versions designed to protect against known software vulnerabilities. Most newer operating systems permit the user to set an automatic update schedule with a specified frequency. You should set your system to check for and install important security updates no less than weekly.

Install and utilize a firewall on your business computers or network: A firewall is a software program or hardware device that monitors and controls external connections to your computer and/or network. A firewall helps to prevent unauthorized or unwanted external connections, and it is your first line of defense against intrusion attempts and malicious code attacks. Be certain to change the default administrative password.

Secure your business’ wireless network: If your business uses a wireless network and it is not secured (encrypted), others can gain access to your network. Average Wi-Fi signals can extend for hundreds of feet beyond the perimeter of the building. Off the shelf wireless network devices typically do not come with their security features active, so review the product documentation to learn how to set the security features for your device, or call the manufacturer if you need assistance. WPA2 is currently the strongest wireless network encryption standard and is available on most newer wireless network devices. Be certain to change the default administrative password on the wireless router, and disable broadcasting of your SSID (Service Set Identifier).

For more information on business identity theft prevention, visit BusinessIDTheft.org.

Miami Woman Convicted In Tax Fraud Scam

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami woman was found guilty on Monday in a Miami courtroom for a tax refund scam that enabled her to receive thousands of dollars in fraudulent refunds from the government.

Prosecutor said 30-year old Natoya Mashea Handy used stolen identities of past or current inmates to submit phony federal tax returns.

Handy was found with 15 social security numbers, names, and dates of birth belonging to people who were incarcerated in the state of Florida. Prosecutor said she used 17 stolen social security numbers to file fraudulent taxes for the 2011 tax year. Each of the tax returns received hundreds of dollars in a refund, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

She was convicted of one count of access device fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft.

Handy’s sentence is scheduled for June 24.

(source)