A Closer Look at the Least Privacy-Friendly States: Cybercrime Rates, Data Breaches, and Their Impact on Residents

Mysteries are fun! But not when our personal information mysteriously disappeared. In this age of the internet (where devices like watches or your fridge can collect data), privacy is a luxury.

Unfortunately, your data’s safety is not the same based on the state you’re in… And not all states are doing fine for digital safety. .

The least privacy-friendly states are South Dakota, Alaska, and Nevada. These states either have high cybercrime rates, frequent data breach incidents, or weak privacy laws.

According to a Comparitech review, the top 2 most privacy-friendly states are California and Utah. California scored 80% due to its comprehensive privacy laws, including protections for geolocation data and data collected from the Internet of Things. The state also provides the right to demand that companies delete their personal data.

But while some states are the gold standard for privacy… Others are not so much.

South Dakota is known for its wide-open landscapes, especially the iconic Mount Rushmore. But while it’s a great place to go for that small-town charm experience… It’s not a sanctuary for personal data.

Here’s why:

Cybercrime:

Despite its rural vibes, South Dakota has a high cybercrime rate, with 183.6 incidents per Capita, according to DesignRush.

The top cybercrimes in South Dakota are identity theft, government benefits theft, phishing scams, imposter scams, fake lotteries, and fraudulent unemployment claims.

In 2020, the average loss per victim was $4,129.

Data Breaches

South Dakota also has a high data breach rate of 0.98 per capita.
One recent data breach incident in the state involved Fryn’ Pan Restaurant, a family restaurant. The cyberattack was undetected from July 8 to October 8, 2023. It was only discovered after the Secret Service notified the owners. The hackers accessed the restaurant's systems and potentially viewed customer data, including:

• Card numbers
• Card expiration dates
• Names
• Addresses

The company has notified customers and urged them to monitor their accounts.

Status of Privacy Laws

South Dakota also has minimal data protection laws and doesn’t have a single, overarching privacy act, unlike California’s CCPA.

What Does This Mean for Residents

So… While South Dakota is a beautiful place to unplug and enjoy nature, you can’t expect the same enjoyment for your digital footprint.

Here are some tips if you live in South Dakota:

• Always verify the emails you receive
• Protect your identity by proactively freezing your credit
• Use a VPN whenever you’re using a public Wi-Fi

Alaska… The home to roaming moose and majestic, breathtaking glaciers.

But behind the state’s rugged independence, Alaska has issues when it comes to data protection.

Cybercrime

In 2023, the FTC received more than 4,700 scam reports in Alaska. The median loss per scam was $750.

The top cybercrimes in the state are imposter scams, identity fraud, fake sweepstakes, fake online courses, advance fee fraud, phishing, and fake check scams.

Data Breaches

The state of Alaska has a low data breach rate. Despite that, residents are vulnerable because of the insufficient safeguards.

One notable data breach in Alaska happened to PowerSchool – a system used by schools to handle student information. This affected several school districts in Alaska and exposed sensitive data, including:

• Names
• contact info
• Social Security numbers
• medical history
• And data dating back over 20 years

This puts students at risk of identity theft and even physical harm. So, PowerSchool offered 2 years of free identity protection.

Status of Privacy Laws

Comprehensive privacy laws are virtually non-existent in Alaska. There are no broad laws for biometric privacy or consumer data protection.

In 2021, the Consumer Data Privacy Act was introduced to grant Alaskans the right to know and delete data collected, and to opt out of data sales. This is nice, but it’s not yet a law.

What Does This Mean for Residents

Without strong privacy laws, the personal data of Alaskans is at risk.

Here are some tips to protect yourself:

• Freeze your credit after a data breach
• Never trust unsolicited calls, especially if they’re asking for information or money
• Use multi-factor authentication on everything
• Use an identity protection service
• Stay informed

Nevada is full of high-stakes casinos and dazzling lights. It’s where people say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
But despite all the fun, the state of Nevada faces some issues when it comes to privacy.

Cybercrime

Nevada ranked second when it comes to cybercrime losses. The state also has more victims than any state (over 800 victims per 100,000 internet users).
According to the FBI, a scam victim in Nevada loses $4,728 on average.
The top cyberattacks in Nevada are identity theft, extortion, and impersonation scams, including fake government scams and phishing.

Data Breaches

Nevada also leads in data breaches, with a rate of 309.7 incidents per capita.

A key data breach incident in Nevada involved MGM Resorts.
In 2023, the resort was hit with ransomware, affecting guests for 9 days. ATMs were disabled, check-in systems crashed, and some guests were locked out of their rooms.

The hackers accessed the data of over 37 million customers. This includes:

• Contact information
• Birthdates
• Passport
• Social Security
• Driver’s license numbers

Because of this, MGM Resorts faced multiple lawsuits. After two years, a settlement of $45 million has been reached for the affected.

Status of Privacy Laws

Nevada has the Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 603A, which gives residents the right to opt out from data sales. However, it doesn’t apply to offline businesses and other entities that collect customer data.

This means that the personal information of Nevada residents is still at risk.

What Does This Mean for Residents

As it turns out… Your data might be the biggest gamble in a state known for high stakes.

Here are some tips to protect yourself:

• Don’t overshare information while connected to a hotel Wi-Fi
• Always verify messages to avoid impersonation scams
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Stay scam-smart by keeping up to date with the latest scams (you can check our eBook and online course).

Overall, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your privacy for a place you call home.

South Dakota, Alaska, and Nevada… These are just a few of the many states that offer adventure and scenic views, but come with privacy concerns.

So… where you live does affect your data privacy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything.

Remember to take proactive steps, stay informed, and demand stronger privacy laws.

What state has the best online privacy laws?

According to Comparitech, the state of California has the best, strongest online privacy policies. California has policies that prevent law enforcement from collecting electronic information without a warrant, and its constitution declares that privacy is an inalienable right.

Which country is the best in data privacy?

Iceland is widely recognized for strong data privacy protection. This includes having a strong legal framework that aligns with the GDPR and policies that protect data from requests for government access.