YONKERS, NY – Despite a rash of high-profile data breaches and cyber threats, an alarming 62 percent of U.S. online consumers have done nothing to protect their privacy on the Internet, according to a recent national Consumer Reports survey. Perhaps not surprisingly, the number of victims is on the rise. One in seven online consumers were notified that their personal data had been breached in 2013 – a 56 percent increase from 2012. And a projected 11.2 million people fell for e-mail phishing scams, up 22 percent from the previous year.

These days the threat of cyber attacks and malicious software is nearly omnipresent, whether Americans are on their home computer, storing files in the cloud, using the Wi-Fi network at the local coffee shop, or at the doctor’s office. A new report, published online today at ConsumerReports.org and in the July issue of Consumer Reports, exposes some of the ingenious methods cybercriminals have been using to prey on the unsuspecting, as well as ways consumers can recognize their points of vulnerability and strengthen their defenses.

“The most effective defense against an international onslaught of shadowy hackers is being a well-informed and vigilant individual,” said Glenn Derene, Electronics Editor for Consumer Reports. “It should be clear by now that consumers can’t rely solely on institutions to safeguard their valuable personal information online. Our report identifies some tools that can help people shut the door on cybercriminals.”

For online consumers the first step in protecting themselves is to know where they’re exposed. The CR report lists 9 areas of vulnerability – from hospitals to cloud services. Some widely used cloud services such as Dropbox and Evernote have a spotty security record. Dropbox has had several breaches over the past few years; and in 2013, a hack of Evernote exposed the user names and e-mail addresses of about 50 million users.

Information stored in the cloud is only as secure and accessible as the cloud provider makes it. Consumers who store private information on cloud-based service should encrypt it with a free encryption program. If a breach occurs, hackers won’t be able easily read that data.

The CR report also includes profiles of seven recent security disasters, a field guide to stronger passwords, as well as reviews of online security software.

Consumer Reports Internet Security Survey
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a survey on Internet security in January 2014. The findings are nationally representative of U.S. adult Internet users. Participants were--3,110 adults with a home Internet connection who were part of an online panel convened by GfK, a leading research company.

From those respondents, we made national projections. The margin of error for the full sample was ± 1.8 at a 95 percent confidence level.

About Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.