TeleSign CEO Comments on Implications of Wired Hack

In light of  this week’s news about Wired writer Mat Honan’s accounts being hacked, Steve Jillings, CEO of Los Angeles-based fraud prevention experts TeleSign, has provided commentary on the implications for organizations that provide online services.  

“If your organization provides online services, you are responsible for safeguarding your customers information.

“Recently, Mat Honan, tech journalist at Wired Magazine, had many of his online accounts hacked resulting in considerable personal and business loss. By his own admission, this hack could have been avoided had he turned on the two-factor authentication feature provided by his web mail vendor. Many large web service providers currently provide two-factor authentication but many others still force their users to rely on their insecure user name and password alone.

“Organizations who have not already implemented two-factor authentication face an easy decision.  Implement cost effective, easy to deploy two-factor authentication and quickly protect your user base or alternately, deal with the aftermath which can include paying out millions to recover lost data, restore customer confidence, and rebound from a damaged public reputation. Security is a bottom line concern: Be proactive and protect your users and your company.”

- Steve Jillings, CEO, TeleSign