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Free Online Identity Theft Risk Assessment Calculator To Protect Shoppers Just In Time For Cyber Monday

Guard ID Systems makes available to general public its diagnostic Online Fraud Risk Profiler, plus comprehensive, expert advice for preventing online ID theft

SAN MATEO, Calif., November 25, 2008 – Next Monday, December 1, or “Cyber Monday,” will mark the kick-off to the holiday online shopping season, and the exploding number of online identity thieves and malware authors are expected to be out in droves to prey upon unsuspecting online consumers.

In the spirit of helping protect the millions of consumers who plan to shop online this holiday season, Guard ID Systems, the first company to combine hardware and software services to protect consumers against online identity theft, invites consumers to use Guard ID’s Online Fraud Risk Profiler free of charge. Normally available only to customers of Guard ID Systems’ ID Vault, the Risk Profiler is a diagnostic tool that runs on the consumers’ PC’s to evaluate their risk of online identity theft and fraud, and calculates the consumers’ “risk scores” based on a number of factors and behaviors. The Risk Profiler then provides consumers immediate advice from identity theft experts on how to protect themselves from online identity theft.

This year, despite the souring economy, eMarketeer forecasts that online holiday sales will total $32.1 billion, up 10.1% over 2007. The National Retail Federation estimates that 72.1 million consumers shopped online on Cyber Monday in 2007, and that number is expected to increase this year. These millions of online shoppers are irresistible to cyber criminals hoping to steal online identities to commit online fraud. According to a 2007 report published by Javelin Strategies, losses due to online fraud reached $13 billion in the previous year.

“The level of sophistication of the schemes used by identity thieves has risen dramatically over the past year, resulting in an explosion of online identity theft,” said David Watkins, CEO of Guard ID Systems. “We wanted to do our part to help consumers understand their level of risk of online identity theft by offering our Online Fraud Risk Profiler free to the general public. The Risk Profiler not only provides a snapshot of a person’s risk level, but also offers some very concrete steps they can take to eliminate their risk immediately.”

Consumers can access the Online Fraud Risk Profiler from the Home Page of Guard ID Systems, Inc.’s Web site, www.GuardID.com.

About Guard ID Systems, Inc.
Guard ID Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Mateo, CA, develops and markets ID Vault, the first Internet security solution that combines hardware with software services to protect consumers against online identity theft and fraud when they bank, shop and invest online. ID Vault is available at top retailers including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Buy.com, Costco, Fry's Electronics, QVC, TigerDirect, and more. Visit www.GuardID.com for more information.

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ID Vault® is a registered trademark of Guard ID Systems, Inc.

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Press Contact

Lori Evans, Evans Public Relations for Guard ID Systems, Inc.
(650) 200-5891