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(Credit:
CNET)
Identity Finder released a free version of its Windows privacy application that's aimed at in-betweeners who worry enough about identity fraud to seek a privacy application, but not enough to trade vigilance for cash.
Of course, that's only one way to look at Identity Finder Free, introduced Thursday. Another is its role to attract spenders to a product family they may not otherwise be aware of or interested in. And why not? All's fair in business promotions during acute economic decline.
Identity Finder Free, a light version of Identity Finder Home Edition, retains the application's core purposes of searching your PC, and Firefox, or Internet Explorer browser, for passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive information a data thief could easily use to hijack your identity--and then destroying them at your say-so.
The application installs a shared start-up window for both Free and Home editions. From there you'll check a box to use the limited free version a single time, or every time thereafter.
The free version won't scour your e-mail messages and attachments, generate reports, or search in the background--for those features you'll need to upgrade to the $24.95 version. (Compare versions here.)
Ask yourself this: Should a hacker leap over your firewall and duck your antivirus to successfully deliver a rootkit and poke around your system, what would the thieving perp find?
Unless you've painstakingly encrypted every instance of your driver's license, bank account, and mother's maiden name there's a good chance your privacy jig could be up were someone to apply the right kind of malicious script. Identity Finder seeks out, and shreds or encrypts personal data sprinkled throughout your computer files, Web tracks, e-mail, and registry. Ahem. That is, if you're a registered, paying customer.
If you're not, Identity Finder will constantly point to your deficiency with nag screens galore and crossed-out circles where interface functions should be ("Demo users--No outlet!"). Until you pony up the cash, Identity Finder won't let you undo your data show-and-tell, or even supply the location of those files which are overly inviting. However, even if scanning with the trial version is all you do, you'll get an idea of how often you hang on to sensitive data that's best hidden or removed.... Read more
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