Who Has the Best 'Cyber Hygiene?.

• Author: Fodor, Laura
• Position: STATESTATS - Brief article

An estimated 1.6 million data breaches occurred throughout the United States in 2017, jeopardizing the security of more than 178 million records. All states have data breach laws requiring entities that collect personal information to notify individuals if that information has been breached. Yet, the risk of cyberattacks varies significantly by state, as cybercriminals take advantage of residents' risky online behavior.

A new report identifies the states whose residents are the most and the least prepared to prevent and respond to cyberattacks.

The Ponemon Institute, a Michigan-based research group, and the internet security company Webroot asked consumers in each state about their experience with cyberattacks and certain risky online behaviors, like reusing passwords, clicking phishing links, using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, failing to update operating systems and applications, and failing to use antivirus software. The researchers then created a "cyber hygiene index," which they used to rate state residents' cyber preparedness.

The states lowest on the index--and thus whose residents are most...