FBI reveals US states with the worst cybercrime… is YOUR hometown a target?

By James On Apr 27, 2024

Not-so-fun fact: The state you live in can make you more susceptible to a cyberattack.

Cyber attacks and the resulting malware, ransomware, identity theft, financial theft, you name it, are incredibly frustrating and can be incredibly expensive to deal with.

New FBI data shows just how bad it can get, depending on your country. Did your state make the cut? Here’s who’s on the hit list.

TorGuard, an online security company, analyzed data from the recent FBI Internet Crime Report and compiled a list of states most at risk for internet crime.

New FBI data shows just how bad it can get, depending on your country. Has your state made the decision? Here’s who’s on the hit list

1. Alaska

Number of attacks: 319 cyber attacks per 100,000 inhabitants (a total of 2,338 cases, more than 50 percent more than last year)

Money lost to internet crimes: $31,771,278 (approximately $13,589 per victim)

Most common crime: extortion (up nine percent since 2022)

2.Nevada

Number of attacks: 308 cyber attacks per 1,100,000 inhabitants (9,893 total cases)

Money lost to internet crime: $200,995,121 (nearly double that of 2022)

Most common crime: Personal data breaches and identity theft

3.Delaware

Number of attacks: 257 cyber attacks per 100,000 inhabitants (total 2,687 cases)

Money lost to internet crimes: $35,376,770, or $13,166 per victim

Most common crime: Personal data breaches (up 30 percent since 2022) and tech support scams

4. Arizona

Number of attacks: 235 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (45 percent increase over the past year)

Money lost to internet crime: $324,352,644 (about $80 million more than the previous year)

Most common crime: extortion and personal data breaches

Cyber attacks and the resulting malware, ransomware, identity theft, financial theft, you name it, are incredibly frustrating and can be incredibly expensive to deal with

5. California

Number of attacks: 199 cyber attacks per 100,000 people

Money lost to Internet crimes: $2,159,454,513 ($27,947 per victim, the largest amount reported)

Most common crime: Personal data breaches

6. Colorado

Number of attacks: 194 cyber attacks per 100,000 inhabitants

Money lost to internet crime: average $16,350 per victim

Most common crime: extortion and non-payment/non-delivery scams

7. Washington

Number of attacks: 186 cyber attacks per 100,000 inhabitants

Money lost to internet crime: $19,773 average per victim

Most common crime: extortion (+108 percent) and non-payment or non-delivery scams

8. South Dakota

Number of attacks: 182 cyber attacks per 100,000 inhabitants

Money lost to internet crimes: more than $35 million, or $21,241 per victim

Most common crime: Personal data breaches

9. Florida

Number of attacks: 179 cyber attacks per 100,000 inhabitants

Money lost to internet crimes: $874,725,493

Most common crime: personal data breaches, non-payment/non-delivery scams and extortion

10. South Carolina

Number of attacks: 178 victims per 100,000 inhabitants

Money lost to Internet crimes: $119,950,630 ($12,320 per victim)

Most common crime: extortion

So, which is the safest state in the US? North Dakota had the lowest number of internet crime incidents in the country. Does anyone know a good real estate agent in Fargo?

Safety first

The data shows that personal data breaches were the most common form of cyber attack in the country. This is how you avoid becoming a victim:

● Sign up for credit monitoring to spot suspicious behavior right away. Credit Karma has a free service.

● Update your passwords and make them bulletproof. Use a different one for each login. If you’re having trouble keeping track, consider a password manager like Keeper Security or even a password notebook that you keep somewhere private and secure.

● Check your bank and credit card statements. If anything suspicious appears, contact your bank immediately and block your accounts.

● Take it a step further and set up phone alerts from your banking app. It’s a bit of a hassle to get your purchases approved, but it’s well worth the peace of mind.

● If your information has been compromised, place a fraud alert on your credit. Placing an alert with one of the three major credit card companies, namely Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Choose one and he will also warn the other two.