From the Electronic Frontier Foundation article: "TextSecure is a messaging app that allows users to send confidential messages with their mobile phone using end-to-end encryption. The app works over a Wi-Fi or data connection, but can also be used to send SMS if such a connection is unavailable."

 From the Is Leaked website: "In public have been leaked more than 18 million passwords of Mail accounts. Check your account in database. 25th of september became known of another biggest vulnerability CVE-2014-6271 (shellshock or bashdoor). All of the devices use bash shell like routers are potentially exposed."

 This article from the AllClearID Alert Network provides a brief description of some common personally identifiable information that is targeted by identity thieves.

From the US Department of Health and Human Services website: "The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires health plans and covered health care providers to develop and distribute a notice that provides a clear, user friendly explanation of individuals rights with respect to their personal health information and the privacy practices of health plans and health care providers. This page provides options for meeting the requirement ot create notices of privacy practices (NPP)."

 Safe Shephard is an online privacy protection service that assists you in managing the personal information that you want to allow marketing and consumer information collection companies to gather and store.

The ';--have i been pwned? website provides consumers with an easy way to check and see whether their online identity has been a part of any reported public breaches.

As a health information consumer you should be sure to make yourself aware of these breaches which may compromise commonly used usernames and passwords.

This article from "Ian's Blog" a blog by a privacy and security architect named Ian Oliver provides some basic and not so basic information regarding personally identifiable information or PII.

From the Federal Trade Commission website: A thief may use your name or health insurance numbers to see a doctor, get prescription drugs, file claims with your insurance provider, or get other care. If the thief’s health information is mixed with yours, your treatment, insurance and payment records, and credit report may be affected.

If you see signs of medical identity theft, order copies of your records and check for mistakes. You have the right to see your records and have mistakes corrected.

From the FTC website: Identity theft affects millions of people each year. You can learn how to make protecting yourself from identity thieves part of your daily routine.

Retrieved from: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/video-0023-what-identity-theft on 03/07/2013