Here are some practical tips from McAfee to ensure optimal Internet safety and security in 2011:

Be aware that threats aimed at mobile phones are growing – Use software that backs up smart devices and use strong discretion when storing, saving or editing personal information on your smartphone or device. Don’t keep all of your personal passwords on your device, and avoid using it to store financial information like credit card and bank account numbers.

Keep in mind that gaming and entertainment devices are now Internet-connected – Many people don’t realize that their new gaming console may represent another port of entry for cybercrooks into their household. Some Internet TV applications can expose personal information, so be sure to install anti-virus software, two-way firewalls, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, and safe search capabilities, just as you would on a PC. Block f

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Welcome to the Monday Morning News Kick Off post from the ITAC blog. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we are doing a “light” post today on all current identity theft, data breach and cyber security news (all in one convenient spot). For those of us who are not working today, we hope you can take a moment to remember what this day is really all about — honoring an individual who has played a major role in promoting racial equality in the United States.

Facebook Enables One-Click Identity Theft Option for Rogue Application Developers In a move that could herald a new level of danger for Facebook users, third party application developers are now able to access your home address and mobile phone number. Facebook has announced that developers of Facebook apps can now gather the personal contact information from their users. I rea

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There were 662 data breaches in the United States in 2010, almost a 33 percent increase from 2009 according to a report by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC).   The 662 data breaches exposed a total of 16,167,542 records. It’s a seemingly staggering number, though the ITRC adamantly states in a press release that the statistic may in fact be drastically low.

The actual number is considerably higher because current regulations in the United States don’t require all data breaches to be disclosed, the group said. “Other than breaches reported by the media and a few progressive state Websites, there is little or no information available on many data breach events,” said the ITRC.

The Identity Theft Resource Center defines a breach as any event that potentially puts a person’s name, Social Security number, drivers license number, medical record or financial record (credit or debit card) potentially at risk either in electronic or paper format.

The 2010 report clearly shows that some companies listed the exact number of documents exposed in their incidents.

Other breaches, however, were not as transparent. Nearly half

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The decade was filled with stupid criminals.  Here is a list of the top six stupid criminals.

Lawn Mower Getaway: AOL reports Sheriff’s deputies in Florida were searching a house for stolen property when they got a tip that one of the suspects was trying to make his escape nearby, according to TampaBay.com. Officers reportedly found him not far from his home attempting to flee on a ride-on mower.

Black Marker Burglars: The key to a successful robbery is not getting caught. These two clowns decided to use permanent marker as makeup.

I’ve Been Looking For That! Guy gets pulled over for a minor traffic violation and cops find pot in the car. Also in the trunk, cops discovered a bong inside a plastic shopping bag. Excited, the criminal thanked law enforcement officials for finding the water pipe, which he purchased for $150 and assumed a roommate, had stolen when he couldn’t find it.

MySpace Burglar: Kid breaks into a home and logs into the family’s home PC to his MySpace page. When he

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