Consumer Brief

NEW YORK (9/27/07)--The next time you give out your name and address to a company, count on that information being copied, distributed and backed up--many times. Companies are keeping backups of your sensitive data for years. That could result in your personal information being distributed around the world. Although some databases are necessary and save lives--such as those for medical prescriptions so you don't get two medicines that interact badly--others only increase your risk from company negligence or criminal breach. Even if you've just given your name and address to a company once, it's estimated that information could be copied a thousand times within a year (http://www.Forbes.com Sept. 10) ...