Lifelock is that company run by the dude who boasts, "Here's my Social Security Number! I can't be hurt by ID Theft Man, I'm In-VINCIBLE!!!!" or some such nonsense.
First of all, he was robbed by some guy in texas which proves the point I've been trying to make all along: Lifelock doesn't PREVENT ID theft. But more important than that is how this company advertises. Besides having ads just damned everywhere on the web, I've found a wealth of fake sites that pretend to be 3rd party recommendations, but have little to no content other than Lifelock ads disguised as reviews. Whether this is the direct result of Lifelock marketing or the fault of over-zealous users of a Lifelock affiliate program, but either way, having sites like this really damage what little reputation Lifelock has.
http://sixfoldsecurity.com/financial/identity_theft.php
Created: Nov 2007 by Larry from Bothell WA
Though the site has a ton of links and categories, the only actual page I can load is the one under identity theft which contains lines like "I was skeptical at first" and "Lifelock does a lot more than I thought".
http://www.lifelock4me.com
Created: Sept 2007 by Marketing Partners INC. St Joseph, MI
This site has no content other than a few pages explaining things about Lifelock.
http://www.igotmyidentitystolen.com
Created: Feb 2008 by Domains by Proxy, Scottsdale AZ
I found this site originally because the very first comment on my "Lifelock Sucks" article was from a guy who left this url with his comment. The comment appeared to be reasonable, if wrong, criticism of my position. But when I went to the site, I found out that it was a thinly disguised front site. Though there are a few articles on it not related to Lifelock, the page navigation consists only of "About Lifelock", "Features", "How Lifelock Protects You", and "Order".
I love their "About Us" page:
About Us
Here at IGotMyIdentityStolen.com we try to focus on protecting you from identity theft. Giving you tips and updating the site with the ever changing identity theft crisis changes. Criminals think of new ways every day to scam innocent people.
Identity Theft has been such a problem in the United States along with the world. So prevent yourself from identity theft.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Please feel free to drop us an e-mail at support@igotmyidentitystolen.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
- Trying to make your life easier,
Mr. Identity Theft Protector
Could you get more generic than that? Note that neither the domain registration information nor the comment left on my site has a name attached.
http://lifelockreviews.com
Created: April 2007 by Whoisguard (a company that shields the registrant)
You couldn't make a better search engine bait site than this. Lifelock is mentioned 55 times in 4 postings (the only four posts on the site) with titles like "A Review of Lifelock", "Lifelock Consumer Review", "Lifelock Million Dollar Guarantee", and "Lifelock – Identity Theft Security or Scam".
And of course, the first line in each "unbiased fair 3rd party review" is "LifeLock is the only Identity Theft Prevention Solution backed by a one-million dollar guarantee!Click here to get a 10% discount."
http://lifelockreviews.net
Created: April 2007 by Kurt from Tallahassee
Single page ad for Lifelock. No other content.
http://lifelockreviews.org
Created: March 2008 by Patty from Louisville
Four posts on a blog, all about Lifelock.
http://lifelockreviews.info
Created: Nov 2007 by Ken from Singapore
Single page ad for Lifelock.
http://lifelock-reviews.com
Started in April 2007, lifelock-reviews.com has put out a wealth of (sarcasm) useful unbiased information (/sarcasm)… into their only two categories "ID Theft" and "Lifelock". Of note, this site includes real news and videos unlike every other site I've seen so far, but the last line in EVERY post is something similar to this: "To purchase LifeLock or get more information please click here."
http://idtheftquiz.org
Created: Sept 2006 by Kurt from Tallahassee
There is nothing, nothing, on this site but a single page ad for Lifelock. I count is as a front site because of this:
We are proud to be working with Lifelock to offer the most comprehensive ID-Security programs available… blah blah blah
Correction: There is something besides the ad. If you look carefully through the ad, there are some links that go to other articles and such promoting Lifelock. There. Are you happy now George?
http://www.identitytheftlabs.com
Created: April 2007 by Domains by Proxy, Scottsdale AZ (another registrant shielding service)
This one is a bit curious. They have information about some other monitoring services as well and aren't as clearly a front site, but they've got the tell-tale signs. They were also started in April of '07 and their postings are heavily weighted towards Lifelock more so than the others they talk about (which, by the way, is only 2 other services).
http://lifelockworks.com
Created: Feb 2008 by Domains By Proxy, Scottsdale AZ
A single page ad for Lifelock. Most notable is that the normal links at the bottom of the page (Contact, TOS, Copyright, etc) all link straight back to lifelockworks.com. They're only there for looks.
This is getting dull so here are some more listed in no particular order
lifelock-promo.com
lifelocktv.net
safeidentityreview.com
getlifelock.net
identitytheftsecrets.com
reviewsonlifelock.com
www.f1racing.ws/
http://www.hillarybillary.com/
And the following are sites that have other posts, but at least one on lifelock that pretends to be a review, but isn't:
http://www.brokencode.us/finance/lifelock-scam/ (3 articles)
http://brinformatica.alojagratis.org/2008/04/06/lifelock/ (3 articles)
http://mbaonlinedegree.biz/2008/04/10/lifelock-review-for-the-id-prevention/ (1 article)
http://dmnewexpress.com/?p=128 (4 articles)
http://infinitum-media.com/ (4 articles)
http://www.drcopa.com/index.php?s=lifelock&x=&y= (1 article)
http://www.ginolopez.com/?p=43 (1 article)
http://abshome.blogspot.com/2008/04/value-of-life-lock_13.html (18+ articles)
http://msteenybopper.multiply.com/journal/item/146/Lifelock_Promo_Codes (1 article)
And a million more. Just do a search for Lifelock and you'll find them everywhere.
Tags: Identity Theft, If You Only Knew, Lifelock, Scuzzy Companies
There have been almost 40 data breaches in Maryland since January which have been reported only due to a new breach notification law in Maryland.
I’m betting the story would be similar for other states if they had similar laws.
Tags: If You Only Knew, Maryland
The Consumerist was taking heat recently for posting articles about how Monster brand cables are no better than any other even though they cost so much more. Now Popular Science is joining the action with their article explaining that all high end cables are a ripoff.
The electronics industry’s dirty little secret is that they have extremely thin margins on gear, so they make up the cost difference by up-selling you on extended warranties and incredibly marked-up cables.
This is completely true. When I worked at a big named retailer, I could buy a 30 dollar cable for about $6 with my employee discount. Things like extended warranties, add on-services, and accessories are all the same.
Tags: If You Only Knew, Retailers
It's this easy to destroy someone. Just post an ad on Craigslist.com stating that everything on a man's property is free and people will rob the place blind. All that's required is for someone to know when you're out of town.
(H/T to digg for the link)
Tags: If You Only Knew
If you’ve heard of Rev. Wright (Barak Obama’s pastor) and the things he’s reportedly said, you should probably know that there’s a video of the sermons where you’ll find he didn’t actually say what was reported.
Tags: If You Only Knew
Is this really a surprise to anyone? Drug companies make so much money off their medicine, it’s no leap to think that there’s a vast amount of corruption in the industry.
Tags: If You Only Knew
GoDaddy, an Internet hosting provider that’s no stranger to controversy of its own, has pulled hosting of RateMyCop.
RateMyCop founder Gino Sesto says he was given no notice of the suspension. When he called GoDaddy, the company told him that he’d been shut down for “suspicious activity.”
When Sesto got a supervisor on the phone, the company changed its story and claimed the site had surpassed its 3 terabyte bandwidth limit, a claim that Sesto says is nonsense. “How can it be overloaded when it only had 80,00 page views today, and 400,000 yesterday?”
I wouldn’t touch GoDaddy hosting with a ten foot pole. If you’re hosted with them, find someone else. Now.
Tags: If You Only Knew
If you didn’t know this already, stores make massive profits on cables and connectors. Most of these cost anywhere from 3 to 60 dollars for the store, but are sold from 19.99 to 179.99 or more!
There’s just no way to get a good deal on cables from a regular retail outlet so buy them from an online outlet instead.
For a bonus, head over to the Consumerist for a full price sheet from Radio Shack showing their cost versus your cost on their stock of Monster brand cables.
Sample:
Item | Retail Price | Wholesale Price | Profit Margin
MONSTER 19FT HDMI-DVI | $179.99 | $99.94 | $80.05
MONSTER 8M L 26.24′ | $137.99 | $73.49 | $64.5
MONSTER 19FT HDMI-HDMI CA | $169.99 | $105.5 | $64.49
“MONSTER 21′ STRAIGHT 1/4″”" | $149.99 | $88.87 | $61.12
MONSTER HTS 950 | $149.99 | $90.89 | $59.1
MONSTER SLVR FLAT MNT-37I | $149.99 | $91.44 | $58.55
MONSTER 16FT DVI-DVI CABL | $149.99 | $93.08 | $56.91
MONSTER 13FT HDMI-DVI CAB | $149.99 | $93.08 | $56.91
MONSTER 6M L 19.68′ – COM | $114.99 | $61.24 | $53.75
MONSTER 8′ DIGITAL FIBER | $114.99 | $61.24 | $53.75
Tags: If You Only Knew, Retailers
Warning! Warning! You have found a RANT. Articles in this section are sounding boards for my frustrations. They usually (more like always) lack impartiality and may include arguments and "facts" that may not be supported. With time I may calm down and make this a real article, but for now, you have been warned...
So the Department of Justice, in an attempt to prove once-and-for-all, that they hate us all, has argued that the over $200,000 award in the Thomas versus Capitol case is not unconstitutionally excessive. Excuse my French, but bull shit! What crime did this lady commit? She shared a few music files? Oh woe is us! Oh poor, poor Capitol! They lost so much money to this lady and her dastardly ring of thievery.
What we didn't realize is that she's actually the head of an international crime syndicate who's sole purpose is to lower the profit margins of Capitol records. Using her ability to speak 14 foreign languages, natural charisma, slight psychic power, and the ability to perfectly mimic a harmless American Citizen, she developed a web of deceit and criminal activity whereby she coerced otherwise upstanding people to perform acts of supreme depravity (like downloading or sharing music).
Thank you, thank you, Capitol Records, for taking a stand against Jammie Thomas, who is surely evil incarnate come to Earth to destroy us all.
Update – May, 17th 2008
Apparently, the judge is considering a new trial. Maybe Thomas has a chance after all.
Update – 2008.09.24
Woohoo! It's been overturned.
Update – 2009.06.18
In a new trial, they upped the damages she owes to almost 2 million! I wonder if they consider it constitutionally excessive now.
Tags: If You Only Knew, Jammie Thomas, RIAA, Thomas v Capitol
Facebook has been caught with a seriously nasty tracking and monitoring program that it's unleashed upon it's users.
Their new ad software broadcasts your current activities to your facebook friends. If you just bought a ticket to a concert, your friends might see an alert to that effect. If you just bought medication for your embarassing personal issue, they might see that too. But it gets worse:
Beacon will report back to Facebook on members' activities on third-party sites that participate in Beacon even if the users are logged off from Facebook and have declined having their activities broadcast to their Facebook friends.
(H/T to slashdot for the link)
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