TEMPLE, Texas — Malware infections, data breaches and cyber attacks have been on the rise for the last ten years according to industry experts.

The number of reported data breaches has risen to its highest level ever last year, jumping 68 percent — that’s according to a report from Identity Theft Resource Center.

“These hackers and these bad actors, they know where to go and they know where to find it,” said Gail Wallin, the interim assistant vice president of the Information Technology department at Texas A&M University-Central Texas. “I always say they’re waiting in the loom; anyone could fall prey.”