This morning, a House Committee is holding a hearing to examine the risks to consumers of data breaches, such as one of the latest, which affected users of the Sony PlayStation Network last week. According to press reports, Sony declined to testify before the committee.

Witnesses at the hearing include officials from the FTC and U.S. Secret Service, as well as representatives from the Center for Democracy and Technology and Purdue University. The hearing is being held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

We will have more on this hearing as events unfold.

Security risks to consumers, both online and off, continue to proliferate. The June issue of Consumer Reports, which will be available online and on newsstands within a week, offers a comprehensive look at those risks plus considerable advice from police and experts on how to avoid them.

Our reports examine the risks of credit card and ATMs, social networks like Facebook, mobile phones, and home security. These reports will include disturbing new findings from the 2011 Consumer Reports State of the Net survey of online U.S. households.

Check this blog next week for the details, including advice on how to protect yourself in this increasing risky world.