While making iTunes purchases may be as easy as clicking a button, it’s becoming just as easy for hackers to tap into the store’s security. For over a year, con artists have been breaching Apple’s security and retrieving the personal data of thousands of users. While the company claims it has the situation under control, the latest wave of criminal activity occurred in mid-August 2010 when customers claimed they’d been robbed.

PCWorld, the computer and technology news site, is reporting that, thus far, Apple hasn’t been able to stop hackers from breaking into the iTunes store. Tech Crunch and the San Jose Mercury News originally broke the news in 2009 when a flood of customer complaints went viral as a result of the security breach. Now, there’s evidence that the number of fraud cases is on the rise.

“iTunes is always working to prevent fraud and enhance password security for all of our users,” Apple said in an e-mailed statement to PCWorld. “But if your credit card or iTunes password is stolen and used on iTunes, we recommend that you contact your financial institution and inquire about canceling the card and/or issuing a chargeback for any unauthorized transactions. We also recommend that you change your iTunes account password immediately.”

NBC Bay Area news reports that a number of cases are being linked back to PayPal, an intermediary service that allows consumers to link their bank accounts and credit cards for purchases. PayPal, which serves as a middleman for online transactions, has been highly regarded as a secure method of payment in the past. Now, Apple may tarnish the company’s track record if the number of security breaches continues to increase.

Credit card security has become a priority to Americans as technology advances and it becomes easier for hackers to steal personal data. When this information falls into the wrong hands, it can result in debt and credit score damage for the victim, which can take years to recover from.

Earlier this month, Verizon and AT&T were just two of the many mobile service providers that announced plans to integrate credit card information and smartphones to make shopping easier for Americans. By combining the two, Businessweek reports that consumers will be able to complete transactions via phones as opposed to plastic. Whether the idea catches on, however, will depend on the steps mobile service providers take to protect consumers’ personal information. Consumers are less likely to be lured in by the added convenience if there’s still a heightened risk of data theft.

One thing smartphone and credit card data integration will offer consumers, however, is the ability to manage their finances on the go. Purchases will be made easier, but bank accounts will be more accessible as well. This may give Americans a greater incentive to adopt a more responsible approach to financial management.

While the iTunes security breach served as a wake-up call for users, analysts argue that consumers should be monitoring their credit on a regular basis to detect fraud and avoid debt to begin with.