Nearly 90% of American adults were Internet users as of January 2014, according to the Pew Research Center. This trend has been spurred along by decreasing personal computer costs, a spike in online-enabled mobile devices and greater speed and access in communication activities and banking.
The rise in Internet usage corresponds to an increase in data stored online, including all sorts of sensitive personally identifiable information, including names, dates of birth and social security numbers. While fraudsters and scammers have always been around, these bad guys now have greater access to data than ever before. With recent data breaches such as the one at the Office of Personnel Management making headlines, it’s more important than ever to ensure that you are putting up your best defenses against potential cyber threats.
