There's a lot of media coverage right now about data breaches that happen at corporations, medical facilities, and even colleges and universities. It seems that nearly every day a new breach is reported. And security proponents are screaming for new legislation to help curb the number of data breaches taking place.

The idea that legislation will cure the breach problem leaves out one small factor -- people. A recent data breach at the University of Utah is a prime example. The breach happened because a third-party employee didn't do his job as he should have. It's that kind of human carelessness that causes most data breaches, and no legislation can curb that. Instead, it takes thorough staff training, and consistent performance monitoring. And that need to come from the organizations, not legislatures.

Summer means vacation. Many people live for their vacations. It's a time to forget about everything in the "real world" back home and pretend to be someone else for a little while. If you're not careful, though, when you return from your vacation, someone else may just be you.

Your vacation provides an opportunity for identity thieves to get at your personal information. Whether those thieves gain access to your information in your home while you're away, or from you when you're at play, the job is just easier if you're on vacation. So, if you're planning to take a vacation this summer, start thinking about how to protect your identity so your vacation doesn't end in disaster.