Rural Mutual Insurance Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Combat Identity Theft

A former computer hacker offers advice on how to be safe online.

Fremont, CA: In 2022, insurance technology is going to advance much further. The speed of changes in the P&C insurance sector gets driven by digital insurance offerings and a defined omnichannel strategy for client care. Furthermore, insurance firms are looking for evergreen solutions to assist them in remaining ahead of the competition. Evergreen solutions are the technology that can expand and update with changing demands and capabilities.

Rural Mutual Insurance Firm and its partner CyberScout, a Sontiq company, have joined forces to create the "Are You Smarter Than a Thief?" public awareness campaign in October during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The campaign's objective is to assist Wisconsin residents to protect themselves from identity theft, which affects one in every twenty Americans and costs the state $17 billion each year.

Tim Winslow, a former member of the Milwaukee-based 1980s adolescent hacking group "The 414s" and a career computer systems engineer and cybersecurity specialist, is featured in the campaign. Winslow describes his experiences as a hacker and what has changed – and has not changed – in the realm of identity theft over the last few decades. A brief exam to test your cybersecurity skills, a downloadable list of top frauds, social media advice, and other instructional information about the current identity theft trends and remedies are all part of the multi-faceted digital campaign.

" Being aware of the risks and taking basic steps to protect yourself is one of the most important things we can all do to safeguard our valuable data and finances," said Mike Lubahn, Director of Marketing for Rural Mutual Insurance.

According to Eduard Goodman, Chief Privacy Officer of Sontiq, the parent company of CyberScout, there has been a substantial increase in online fraud over the last year as more individuals work remotely and spend more time on their computers.

"Fraud never sleeps – the instant you let your guard down is when you are ripe to become a victim of identity theft," he said. "It's crucial to be diligent and do your best to place your own and your family's security over convenience and shortcuts."