In a story unfortunately similar to our previous post about improperly disposed personal documents in the United Kingdom, an American security company is suspected to have made the same mistake.

Securing confidential information is a concern for individuals and businesses worldwide. Once consumers surrender personal identifying information, they trust that it will be properly protected, kept in confidence, and responsibly disposed of when no longer needed.

As the media reports more cases of hackers being brought to justice for major security breaches, experts warn that cyber crime is only going to increase.

The Red Flags Rule continues to be a central topic of discussion for businesses like Electronic Verification Systems (EVS), who provide compliance and fraud security solutions.

Experian’s QAS blog covered a Business Wire report earlier this month about a new application for Address Verification that may be put to use on a national scale.

Red Flag, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s rule of universal identity fraud prevention and action, goes into effect on November 1. When the due date arrives, all creditors and financial institutions will be required to implement compliant procedures for detecting, reporting and defending against the  “red flags” of potential identity fraud.

For a strong example of security in practice, a consumer needs to look no further than his or her nearest airport. In fact, the airport is one of the most security oriented establishments known to most consumers.

After the postponement of the Red Flags Rule until November 1, 2009, the industry continues to talk about the future of online identity and identity verification.