Do Debit Cards Make the Internet More Dangerous?

A new economic study shows that switching people from paper welfare checks to electronic debit cards is linked to a drop in assaults, burglaries, and robberies. Of course, that is good news, but because of the Law of Unintended Consequences, there are other ramifications. Instead of violent person-to-person crimes, skilled hackers are increasingly probing corporations and individuals for gaps in security. A robust industry, generating at least billions of dollars a year, has grown up around hacking. And, the more we move away from cash, the more vulnerable to these attacks we become.