1. What types of technology could big retailers use to prevent identity thieves from purchasing merchandise?

They could use the Authentication and authorization technologies that can help the big retailers to identify if the user that logged in is the real user. The new technology such as biometrics would not allow a person to have access once it recognizes the user’s either voice or face or iris or handwriting. This piece of technology is much more accurate to identify theft since the simple logins or passwords could be stolen so easily. If the retailer notices any suspicious information on his system, he should immediately contact the customer either through email or phone to verify if it was the correct user or not.
2. What can organizations do to protect themselves from hackers looking to steal account data?

The man, who downloaded all the data freely by sitting outside a Best Buy Store, can do much with the social security numbers of the people he received. Identity theft has been just such a major issue. Once someone is trapped in it, it is just terribly hard to prove that you were innocent. The first step in information security is people. People should be acknowledged about the threats of using online software, how to avoid them, about phishing and pharming. The second step is technology including: Authentication and authorization Prevention and resistance - content filtering, encryption, firewalls
Detection and response - antivirus software
3. What are the two primary lines of security defense and why are they important to financial institutions?

The two primary lines of security defense are people and technology. Since banks deal with money they must offer the most advanced security features to keep their customers finances safe. According to statistics, the financial industry has the fifth highest expenditure/investment per employee for computer security. Banks without security will not last long.

4. Explain the difference between the types of security offered by the banks in the case. Which bank would you open an account with and why?

Bank of America is implementing authentication and authorization technologies such as online computer identification
Wells Fargo & Company is implementing authentication and authorization technologies such as additional password criteria
E-Trade Financial Corporation is implementing authentication and authorization technologies such as Digital Security IDs
Barclay’s Bank is implementing prevention technologies such as online-transfer delays and account monitoring Reference:

Baltzan, P., & Phillips, A. (2009). Business Driven Information Systems. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Links: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/authentication/ http://httpd.apache.org/docs/1.3/howto/auth.html
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms733071.aspx