Mountain View, Calif. – December 16, 2014 – Credit Sesame, the leading consumer credit and personal finance company, today announces the launch of Think Security First!, an informative guide created to educate consumers about the threat of identity theft, cybercrime and data breaches. The guide provides consumers with information about the necessary precautions and steps to take when using their credit and debit cards this holiday season as the threat of major retailer data breaches continues to increase.

To download the free Think Security First! handbook, please visit: www.creditsesame.com/100-cities

The guide also serves as the official handbook for the upcoming 100 Cities in 100 Days nationwide initiative aimed at preventing identity theft and cybercrime through education in partnership with the nonprofit Identity Theft Council. Credit Sesame will be sponsoring the 100 Cities in 100 Days program that asks 100 cities nationwide to commit to raising awareness about identity theft within a 100-day period. Consumers face a growing problem in protecting their personal information and the Identity Theft Council, Credit Sesame and other sponsors have come together to release the 31-page identity theft and cybercrime prevention guide and other free resources.

“There have been more than 81 million consumer records exposed in the last year putting most Americans at risk for identity theft,” said Credit Sesame CEO, Adrian Nazari. “We partnered with the Identity Theft Council to create and distribute this free guide so consumers could have a place to turn for advice, answers and support when it comes to identity theft and cybercrime.”

The Think Security First! guide includes useful information on how to keep your personal information secure with a focus on staying safe online, protecting against malware, keeping your children and older family members safe from cybercrime and more. The guide offers guidance on password protection, malware, cyber scams, data breaches and more. Consumers can also find access to helpful resources like no-cost identity protection and identity theft insurance, free virus protection software and more.

For more information on 100 Cities in 100 Days or to get involved, email: 100cities@creditsesame.com

About 100 Cities in 100 Days

100 Cities in 100 Days is a unique approach to helping consumers, small business owners, and communities cope with the seemingly endless growth in identity theft, cybercrimes, data breaches, and Internet dangers. The goal of the campaign is to persuade local communities to come together and work with each other, led by local experts, to spread the “prevention through education” message about identity theft. The Identity Theft Council will work with cities throughout the United States to provide support in educating communities about the threat of identity theft.

About Identity Theft Council

The non-profit Identity Theft Council was founded in 2010 on a simple premise – that every community, no matter how small, has resources that can be harnessed to combat identity theft: to help victims recover from the crime, to ease the burden on law enforcement, and to educate users about the many options they have to avoid the crime. The council aims to partner with law enforcement, security experts, and consumer groups to find more effective ways to support victims, train law enforcement, and educate the community. In 2011 the council was honored as the first non-profit to win the coveted SC Magazine Editor’s Choice Award. For more information, visit www.IdentityTheftCouncil.org.

About Credit Sesame

Credit Sesame is the personal credit advocate and loan expert, helping people make smarter financial decisions to save money and live richly. From free credit scores and credit monitoring, to premium credit and identity theft protection, Credit Sesame is the only provider that gives consumers the tools they need to access, monitor and analyze their credit, improve their financial standing and protect their identity — all in one place.

Credit Sesame uses a proprietary savings recommendation engine, with bank-level analytics, that monitors the market, runs thousands of scenarios and analyzes each individual’s financial profile to identify the best loans and savings opportunities. Customers receive unbiased recommendations on home loans, auto loans, credit cards and other loans, customized for their personal financial situation.

For more information visit CreditSesame.com, or check out the Credit Sesame mobile app, available for download in the Apple App Store and on Google Play for Android.

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