We're finally on the brink of the cashless society that futurists and other have been forecasting for years. The average consumer owns at least two credit cards and early adopters have begun ditching plastic for virtual wallets. Even businesses that used to rely heavily on cash — think taxis, food trucks or even craft fairs — can now go cashless, thanks to new technology like Square. Yet, the more we abandon paper bills for plastic, smartphone payments and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the perils of the new, cashless economy are becoming more apparent. Recent security breaches at Target, Neiman Marcus and other retailers illustrate the vulnerability of electronic payments to hacking attacks. There were 2,164 reported security incidents exposing 822 million records last year, nearly doubling the previous highest year, 2011, according to Risk Based Security, a data security firm. The pace seems to be continuing this year.



Square, a credit card reader, is arranged on an Apple iPhone. Jin Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Chip-and-pin cards, in use in Europe for years, would remove some of the threat. Computer chips embedded on the cards verify unique personal identification numbers consumers punch into terminals. The cards would help reduce fraud, but it's not clear how much. For instance, they don't help prevent online fraud.The problem is cost. Making the cards and installing the new terminals needed to read them is expensive. Consumer advocates want Congress to press retailers and banks for fast adoption of chip-and-pin technology. More from The Fiscal Times:



Read MoreThe 13 worst supermarkets in America in 2013



Read MoreWhy Bloomberg's 'nanny' campaign will backfire



Read MoreOffshore tax havens cost you $1,259 a year "Some institutions in the U.S. say they will switch to this technology in the next few years, but we need a stronger commitment from all stakeholders," stated Delara Derakhshani, policy counsel for Consumers Union, in testimony to Congress. "Policymakers must also take action to encourage investments in technology to tighten up the security of our financial institutions." Data breaches aren't the only downside. Going cashless in a world of Big Data means all your purchases — and therefore your privacy — is up for grabs. Did you hear the one about the woman who wanted to surprise her husband and tell him that after three years of trying, she was finally pregnant? Too late. While on line one night on their home computer, he noticed all these products geared to pregnancy and childbirth.