If you think 2017 was a bad year for cyberattacks, just wait to see what happens in the coming years, one cybersecurity expert warns. “We’ve only seen the beginning,” said Dr. Eric Cole, CEO of Secure Anchor and former CTO of McAfee and Lockheed Martin. “Cybercrime is big business, it’s a very high-payoff, low-risk crime … we’ve seen nothing yet.” In 2016, U.S. financial losses stemming from cyberattacks totaled $1.33 billion, a 24% increase over the year prior, according to an FBI report. An Accenture study concluded that the number of hacks likely increased by more than 27% between 2016…
Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category
Halloween Scares Up Record Sales
Posted on October 31, 2017 by Laura Lam
This may not be good news for your waistline, but your sweet tooth might appreciate it: Halloween candy sales are crackerjack this year. Halloween candy sales are expected to rise 4.1% from last year, reaching a seasonally adjusted $4.1 billion, according to HIS Markit data. “Consumer confidence is riding high, so consumers are likely to splurge a little more on edible goodies,” said David Deull, a senior economist with IHS Markit. The sales increase is particularly impressive given that candy prices have dropped 0.9% compared with last year, marking the second consecutive Halloween candy price decline, according to IHS Markit…
Best States for Halloween Candy
Posted on October 27, 2017 by Laura Lam
A recent analysis of Halloween candy purchases found that Oregon tops the list of best states to go trick-or-treating in based on how much money residents spend on candy, with 3 Musketeers as the favorite there. Trailing in second place is neighboring Washington – choosing 100 Grand bars as the top treat – but Oregonians spend on average $11.64 more per person on Halloween sweets. The top states and amounts spent per person on candy: Oregon ($40.29) Washington ($28.65) New Jersey ($24.36) Utah ($23.73) California ($19.72) New York ($19.08) Pennsylvania ($18.78) Illinois ($18.19) Virginia ($17.76) Wisconsin ($16.74). What state ranks…