Half Of Mass. Residents Are Victims Of Data Theft

Nearly half of Massachusetts residents have had some of their personal electronic information stolen in the past four years.

Most breaches happen through unencrypted data on portable devices like phones or laptops.

"We just need to do a better job of protecting the information of individuals," says Barbara Anthony, the Undersecretary of the State Department of Consumers affairs and Business regulation.

"And encrypting data is the key to protecting that personal information."

The financial services industry saw the highest number of breaches. Anthony says that's because the industry tends to hold more personal information on file than other sectors.