Although credit card theft remains the primary breech of security for one's identity, access through the smartphone and devices will soon supplant this crude criminal method. As technology expands, rendering manual activities for purchase and verification of identity obsolete, so to will the criminal endeavors to acquire consumers most valuable information. Currently, smartphones and devices are overtaking conventional methods of payment, communication and access. Advancements in technology are occurring much faster than our ability to secure against violation. As such, we can expect to see a rise in the complaints of identity theft through handheld smart-devices.
Augmenting the ever increasing trend of technology, are the advancements in technology that feeds itself, causing an exponential rate of change and undermining the ability of most governments to offer counter security measures. Technology advents like nanotechnology, IPv6 and new more powerful computing are enabling the criminalistic endeavors of many that includes some governments. Considering the manner in which consumers make use of smart devices (making material purchases, paying utilities and mortgages) that require housing of personal information with quick access to passwords; our behavior continues to provide tremendous opportunities for criminals, a fact that will rise at a rate commensurate with advances in technology. And lke it or not, criminals are consumers and they keep up with technology like experts, showing an adeptness for technology with creative cryptic actitivies.
Finally, as consumers abandon LAN lines for wirelsss connections, using the airways to make communication connections, the free "air" or medium will become the highway for criminal getaways. Unless authorities, equipment suppliers and ISP's work in collaboration to improve security and enforcement, an end to this activity, is more than likely, not soon forthcoming. At some point, the "air" that we breath may not entirely be free anymore, as consumers will inevitably have to subsidize any new security measures. So, caution to those consumers that are quick to replace secure methods of communication with new technology, for the price for convenience, may come at a cost, far too great to imagine!
