NORTH CAROLINA SECURITY BREACHES IMPACT 530,000 CONSUMERS News-Record.com - Greensboro, North Carolina: News: Security breaches impact 530,000 in N.C.

More than 100 security breaches have been reported to the state's Consumer Protection Division under laws that require businesses and government to let consumers know when their personal information may have been lost or stolen.

Under North Carolina laws, state and local government and businesses must notify consumers if a security breach may have compromised their personal information. A security breach happens when data or records containing personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account numbers are lost,stolen or displayed.

Businesses have been required to report security breaches since Dec. 1, 2005, and state and local governments have been required to report breaches since Oct. 1, 2006.

A total of 103 breaches that involved information about more than 530,000 North Carolina consumers have been reported since the laws took effect, Attorney General Roy Cooper stated today.

Of those breaches, half involved the theft of laptops, computers or other equipment containing personal information. Nearly 20 percent of breaches were caused by unauthorized release or display of information, and nearly 18 percent were the result of hackers.

Almost half of all breaches reported came from the financial services and insurance industry, while nearly 10 percent were reported by state and local government agencies.

More about protecting your identity is online at www.noscamnc.gov.