Congresswoman Searches For Better Protection Against ID Theft

The threat of Cyber Crime is exploding, according to Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs.

As the chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, she said just about everyone who gets online has to worry about the security of their personal information.

The concern grew after recent attacks by hackers against companies like Citigroup, Sony, Epsilon and Lockheed-Martin.

“Companies need to realize the threat is here, that it’s very serious and they need to do all they can to protect consumers,” said Bono Mack.

Now, the congresswoman said she is using her role on the subcommittee to fight for better consumer safeguards.

“This is more about the standards, the way companies protect our data and what they need to do with it when they’re hanging on to it,” she said.

Last week on Capitol Hill, Bono Mack’s subcommittee grilled Sony and Epsilon executives about their data breaches.

The testimony came just days before Citigroup notified 200,000 credit card holders affected by its own breach, which analysts later discovered happened a month before.

“I think the consumer should know right away,” Bono Mack said. “In some cases, the companies have decided to wait and not tell the consumers for whatever reason. And in my mind, that just jeopardizes people further.”

The congresswoman said more hearings on the issue will be held this week.