AOL to Block Identity Theft Sites

NEW YORK (Reuters) - America Online on Wednesday is expected to unveil plans to block identity theft sites and monitor suspected Web sites around the clock.

The online unit of Time Warner Inc. partnership with Cyota, a New York-based online security company, to help identify and block sites imitating legitimate companies, such as banks that are suspected of soliciting personal information, or "phishing." "Phishing and identity theft are the fastest-growing security threats online," said Tatiana Platt, an AOL senior vice president said in a statement. "By limiting our members' access to suspected phishing sites, we're trying to cut the lines before a phisher can reel them in."

Platt said AOL also plans to release other products aimed at curbing junk mail and other online scams.

AOL has implemented a number of subscriber security measures in recent months, including a keychain-sized passcode generator needed to log into an account that provides password security on par with corporate computer users.

NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at

. Hundreds of new articles daily.

*** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This Internet discussion group is making it available without profit to group members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of literary, educational, political, and economic issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, in this instance, Reuters Limited.

For more information go to: