Thanks for your nice message about the Equifax article in WIRED. I worked very hard on the article and it's nice to know that you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

It turns out that there is no easy way to get your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies at the same time; instead,you must go to each one. Here are the addresses:

Equifax Inc.
P. O. Box 4081
Atlanta GA 30202
404/885-8000
     Toll-free consumer line: 800/685-1111
http://www.equifax.com/

TRW Credit Data
100 City Parkway West
Orange CA 92668
714/385-7000
     Consumer affairs: 800/682-7654
     Consumer requests for disclosure: 800/392-1122

Trans Union
555 W. Adams St.
Chicago IL 60661
312/258-1717

These companies want a *lot* of information before they give you your credit report. Allegedy this is to protect you. I think that it's really so they can verify and validate their files. They'll want your current address, your previous address, employer, mother's maiden name, and, of course, your social security number. 

To block your file for promotional purposes, just write the companies a letter asking them to do so. Equifax currently isn't doing promotional purposes anyway, TRW has temporarily bowed out of the business, and Trans Union is fighting the FTC in court for the right to continue doing it.

If you have been denied credit within the past 90 days, just say so, and you'll get it for free. Some states also regulate how much these reports cost.

Right now, I'm hard at work trying to finish up the rewrite on my first book, Practical UNIX Security. Another book that I've written which you might find interesting is PGP: Pretty Good Privacy (O'Reilly & Associates, 1995). This book tells the history of cryptography, Phil Zimmermann, and tells you how to use Phil's excellent program.

Finally, later this year, I'll probably start working on a major book about privacy issues. It should be a lot of fun. If you know of people who have personal experiences with having their privacy violated, or if you are concedrned about where technology and privacy are going, drop me a note with the words PRIVACY STORY in the Subject: line. I'll save it and get around to contacting you in a few months.

Thanks so much.

-Simson