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Protecting yourself from identity theft starts at home, and the first step is to secure your own computer and the personal data it holds. Identity Finder Free is a powerful tool that scans your PC for unsecured passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal data and gives you the option to shred, secure, recycle, or ignore the scan's findings. It's free to home users on their personal systems. The full version searches for more data and also searches e-mail, compressed files, and removable drives, offers advanced options, and disables ads.
Identity Finder Free's installation wizard includes the option to register the program or continue with the freeware; we selected the free version. Identity Finder's Office-style interface fits in well with business environments, too, thanks to its Identity Finder Button, ribbon-style toolbar, and light blue background.
We started our search using the default settings. Identity Finder Free scanned 2,422 files and found 15 identity matches, displaying all the results with details in the list view and in a pop-up summary. None of the matches was a credit card number. All of the matches were passwords, but none were unsecured, current passwords from programs such as Web browsers; all 15 were software trial log-ons in archived Word documents, and none needed securing. Since they weren't important, we tried some of Identity Finder Free's tricks on them anyway.
We could secure flagged files with passwords and encryption or shred, recycle, or skip them. Shredding destroys the data, but the recycle feature just sends the item to the Recycle Bin. That's a wide step since you can recover data from the Recycle Bin but not from a proper shredding. Identity Finder Free also filters results for various data types as well as for Australian, Canadian, and U.K. factors (for example, NHS numbers in Britain).
Identity Finder Free packs in some extra tools, too, such as the Password Vault, File Vault, File Shredder, System Cleanup, and Browser Security. The System Cleanup tool scours your caches, histories, and temporary file repositories; regular use can help make Identity Finder Free's job easier. And if you run Identity Finder Free and it finds nothing amiss, you're doing something right already.
Publisher's Description
From Identity Finder:
Identity Finder Free Edition will detect unprotected credit cards and passwords on your computer that are vulnerable to identity theft or fraud. Once found, you can permanently shred or encrypt the information with a password so identity thieves cannot steal them. Take the first step towards protecting your family, your employees, and your business. Use free tools such as the File Vault to encrypt any file in Windows and the Digital Shredder to shred any file from Windows Explorer. Manage passwords securely in the Password Vault.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 15 votes
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Current version:
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"Really works like a guard dog."
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 6.3
Pros
Scans thoroughly.
Cons
Too much space on a hard disc.
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"complex & not for beginners, doesnt look at IE(?)"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 6.0
Pros
does good system scan, however doesnt appear to look at internet explorer...though not sure why
Cons
when scan finished it either gave option for shreeding file and password or placing a master password on the brwower (WT?). Doesnt give any more options and help section silent past this
Summary
better out there
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"A good helping hand for most"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 5.2
Pros
It shows U of some of the weakneses in Your settings and programs. Especialy concerning codewords.
I find it helpfull even i do not use it often.Cons
maybe the solutions for mending or changing is a bit few..
Summary
A good program..
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"Easy and Effective"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.7
Pros
Easy to install, pretty easy to figure out, seems to do the job
Cons
None yet; I'e only used it once.
Summary
I downloaded this to help prepare my laptop to go in for repairs, and as far as I could tell, it cleared everything off that I wouldn't want someone to get a hold of. Which is all I wanted it to do.
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"It works well"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.7
Pros
It is fast and does what it says it'll do
Easy to use interfaceCons
Nothing not to like
Summary
It finds my credit card and debit card numbers and lets me shred them. It works well and is done in a minute. I run it once a week.
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"its a piece of art"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.5
Pros
oh i can do a lot.. check your weakness on pc is what it dos when u have the free program.......It seems like it can a lot more.......which U are unable to use.
Its a lovely graphic..Cons
i do not think i will keep my free edition.. when tested-- its ok ithink
Summary
nice peace of work
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"Makes user and passwords a cinch to remember."
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.5
Pros
I no longer need to keep a log of I.D.'s on the computer or paper where others have relative easy access. I now need only to remember one I.D.
Cons
No cons as of this review.
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"Still one of the best security products of this age.."
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.1
Pros
Finds all sensitive information on your hard drive.
Cons
Would like a break on three PCs, this is only one at a time deal. Would also be better if they had a lifetime license.
Summary
This amazing utility does just what it says, and so fast your head will spin! I really like how they give you a choice in either smudging sensitive information on a document, or simply encrypting them. This is a big improvement over the older version I had.
I like using the wizard for simple granularity, but many will like that there are three choices as search methods. Also you now can search for specific information to make sure it doesn't exist on the hard drive. These and other security improvements make me more confident that the application is not inadvertently storing this information in the system files also. The finder technology seems to be able to find this information anywhere. I was shocked to find out I was not cleaning FireFox up correctly and the saved form data had my credit card information and SSN#!!!!! This really got me angry at myself too, as I though I was doing a better job using my password/encryption vault a little better than this.
This is really a good security check to make sure you've never made an entry mistake or fouled up online and left something behind on your hard drive!! If you do banking and everything else personal online, this is a must have application!
The thieves are just getting too sophisticated to leave anything to chance now days. The price was well worth it. How much is your financial data and good credit worth to you??
I do not work for any single person or company; I just detest letting criminals run all over innocent folks!! -
"Failed to scan"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.1
Pros
Software downloaded but scan failed.
Cons
Downloaded twice, scan failed twice. Unable to use.
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"Fast, efficient, and turns up stuff you never suspected"
Version: Identity Finder Free Edition 4.1
Pros
I am not a novice; I am very security conscious; this software uncovered credit card numbers on my machine I had no inkling were being stored. But these incidents were not done by marginal firms but by major & trusted online merchants. Well done.
Cons
I'm delighted; I've made a number of referrals.
