2005 saw the most computer security breaches ever, subjecting millions of Americans to potential identity fraud.
Over 130 major intrusions exposed more than 55 million Americans to the growing variety of fraud as personal data like Social Security and credit card numbers were left unprotected, according to USA Today.
The Treasury Department says that cyber crime has now outgrown illegal drug sales in annual proceeds, netting an estimated $105 billion in 2004, the report said.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security’s 2005 research budget for cybersecurity programs was cut 7% to $16 million.
It is difficult to gauge the true number of security failures because many companies are unaware they’ve been hacked, the paper said.
