South Carolina Has One of the Most Armed Counties in America
If you’re ever wondered which areas of America has the most firearms, there’s a new study out that sheds some light on it. As it turns out, South Carolina has one of the most armed counties in the entire country.
The Most Armed Areas of the U.S.
The new study from City-data.com looks at the top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that have firearms at their places of residence. As for general numbers, according to Statista.com, “the share of American households owning at least one firearm has remained relatively steady since 1972, hovering between 37 percent and 47 percent. In 2023, about 42 percent of U.S. households had at least one gun in their possession.” Now, let’s look at some key demographics. According to PewResearch.org, 40% of men report they own a gun, and 25% of women. Also, “47% of adults living in rural areas report personally owning a firearm.” They add, “as do smaller shares of those who live in suburbs (30%) or urban areas (20%).” Finally, the latest PewResearch.org states that 38% of White Americans own a gun, 24% of Black American, 20% of Hispanic American and 10% of Asian Americans. What’s more, roughly 72% of gun owners say that the main reason they have a gun is for protection. Some of the other reasons for owning a gun, they report, include hunting, sport shooting, as part of a gun collection and for their job.
The county with the most firearms in America, according to City-data.com, is Stewart County in Tennessee. No. 2 is Fairbanks North Star Borough, Arkansas, and No. 3 is Nez Perce County, Idaho. So, where is South Carolina? Aiken County is No. 11 on the list with 50% of residents having firearms at their homes. Lexington County also makes an appearance at No. 27 and York County comes it at No. 45. Looking at North Carolina, Gaston County is No. 42 on the tally and Union County is No. 47.
Top Mistakes That Can Get You Hacked
Reusing Passwords
Many of us are still using the same password across many different accounts. While it’s pretty common, it’s not a good habit to have. If you’re reusing passwords for multiple websites and accounts, a hacker could potentially use that password to log into those accounts. Nobody wants to have to remember a 16-digit password for every single one of their accounts, especially when getting locked out of a computer or platform at the most inconvenient time. But if a security breach were to happen, that’s one less problem to worry about. Like, remembering which accounts are at risk of a threat.
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Oversharing On Social Media
Personal data exposure is really a thing. When you share personal information on social media, you expose yourself to the risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the New York Institute of Technology, Cybercriminals can use the information you share, such as your full name, date of birth, and location, to impersonate you or launch targeted attacks. Most people know that sharing sensitive information such as your car information, address, work history, or phone numbers can make you vulnerable. But some people forget that this information can also be identified through pictures and innocent as sharing your new car photo or your child’s first day of school photo.
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Using Unsecure Wi-Fi
Hackers can use unsecured Wi-Fi connections to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer. Free public Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere at places like restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and even retail outlets. But public wi-fi comes with risks. “Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer,” said Kaspersky, a tech company. Some people highly recommended looking into a VPN to encrypt internet traffic and keep your data hidden.
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Clicking Suspicious Links
Clicking on a suspicious link or phishing link can sometimes set off a malware download that often contains malicious files. According to Aura, a credit monitoring platform, these links are capable of collecting information stored on your device. Hackers can steal credit card numbers, bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, and other personal information. If you’ve clicked on a phishing link, Cyber Tec Security suggest completely disconnecting from the internet.
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Out-Of-Date Software
The last thing many of us want to do is update our software. But there are many reasons why it’s important to do so. Software updates not only fix and improve problems with your software it also helps you avoid hackers. According to the University of Idaho, software updates often include patches that fix vulnerabilities or bugs that hackers can exploit to access your system or data. “By installing the latest updates, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your personal and business information,” they said.
Ralf Hahn/ Getty ImagesNot Using Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the most effective things you can do to protect your online accounts is turning on multi-factor, or two-factor, authentication for as many of your accounts as possible. This method often uses a piece of information such as a code generated by an app or sent to your phone alongside a password. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process. According to Tech Target, using multi-factor authentication makes it harder for attackers to gain access to a person’s devices or online accounts. Most companies have this in place for their employers but it’s something you can use for personal emails too.
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