During the most recently closed quarter, data breaches increased 14% compared with the same period the year prior, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. While incidents were up in Q1 2022, the total number of people impacted was down 50% compared with the first quarter of 2021 and down 41% compared with Q4 2021, according to ITRC. "Traditionally, Q1 is the lowest number of data compromises reported each year," Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said in a release. "The fact the number of breach events in Q1 represents a double-digit increase over the same time last year is another indicator that data compromises will continue to rise in 2022 after setting a new all-time high in 2021." She added that 2021 saw a surge in data breach incidents because of extremely complex cyberattacks that are driving a rise in identity fraud. "It is vital everyone continues to practice good cyber hygiene, businesses and consumers, to help reduce the amount of personal information flowing into the hands of cyber thieves," Velasquez says. The above slideshow reveals the states where victims of cybercrimes saw the most losses as well as the total number of impacted people during 2021, according to FBI internet crime data. Related: |

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