Everyone knows, or should know by now, that you have to check your credit report with all three credit bureaus every year to make sure that no one’s stolen your identity or that your credit rating hasn’t been hurt by incorrect information. But here’s something new to add to the list: there’s a company that might be keeping track of your work and salary history as well, and furthermore allowing potential employers and creditors to see that information.

According to this piece on Bankrate.com, a company called Talx is keeping that info. on about one-third of all workers in the US. You can bet that’s going to grow. The bad thing is that more and more companies are paying to access the info; the good is that you can write them or call up and get a copy of the information they have on you for free, once a year, just like your credit report.

Personally, I’m about tired of all these companies saving and selling information about me. Every one you read about, including Talx, claims that they use the greatest safeguards against abuse and theft ever! But let’s be real: we’re talking about technology here, and furthermore personal information. If there’s one lesson to be learned about the digital era is that businesses and government will abuse large collections of personal data when given the chance, and that hackers will find ways around safeguards faster than new ones can be put up.

Why will this be any different?