Hacking into the IT systems of banks and retail businesses has become a major activity for organized crime, putting consumers' money and personal information at increasingly greater risk.

Verizon's just-released 2010 Data Breach Investigations Report, based on a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the U.S. Secret Service, details steps that can be and are being taken by companies to safeguard their customers' financial data and personal information. However, consumers also need to play a more active role in this process. They can do so by following some simple, precautionary steps.

Cybercrime and corporate data breaches are being honed by growing numbers of organized criminals around the globe, as detailed in Verizon's data breach reports, which looked at more than 900 corporate data breaches involving more than 900 million compromised records. Perhaps the most vulnerable are the records of customers of financial institutions, retailers and hospitality businesses, which is where the majority of data breaches occurred, according to the report.

Before the financial crisis heightened in 2007/08 creditors, including banks, mortgage companies and automobile dealers would consider offering credit at attractive interest rates with a FICO score averaging 650 t0 700. Today this average has risen to between 740 and 760, as creditors become more cautious in extending credit.

As an increasing number of consumers face economic challenges either from unemployment, stagnant or lower salaries (usually because of reduced work-hours) they find it increasingly difficult to pay their bills on time or pay them altogether. Late payment, or neglect in paying bills will result in the reduction of consumer’s Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) scores (the numerical measure of consumer’s credit worthiness that ranges from a low of 350 to a high of 850) and today hardly any creditor is willing to offer credit of any sort if a borrower’s credit report reveals a low or even mediocre FICO Score.

Before the financial crisis heightened in 2007/08 creditors, including banks, mortgage companies and automobile dealers would consider offering credit at attractive interest rates with a FICO score averaging 650 t0 700. Today this average has risen to between 740 and 760, as creditors become more cautious in extending credit.

Every woman should have a healthy relationship with money, but the reality is that many women still heavily rely on men to handle their finances. Now is the time for women to break out of the traditional role and take action to gain financial independence.

Personal finance expert Suze Orman shares advice on what every woman should carry in her purse, and the financial knowledge she should carry with her at all times.

Reading materials: Once a month, read a financial newspaper or magazine, such as the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's or Smart Money. No need to read cover to cover, just flip through to get a feel for current financial trends. You might be surprised by what catches your eye.