Data Breach Incidents At An All-Time High In The U.S.

August 26, 2008 10:46 a.m. EST

San Diego, CA (AHN) - From January until August this year, 449 American businesses, government agencies and schools reported consumer data loss, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

In contrast, 446 data breaches were recorded by the center for 2007 covering 127 million consumer records. The bulk of the record breach incidents were traced to retail chain TJX, which runs T.J. Maxx outlets.

Linda Foley, founder of the resource center, estimates the real volume of data breach incidents is higher than the 22 million reported since 41 percent of the cases did not state the number of consumer records affected by the data breach.

The District of Columbia and 44 states have legislation requiring companies that were victims of data loss to inform their affected clients. But only Maryland, New Hampshire and Wisconsin regularly publish data breach cases in their states online, Foley said.

The center said 13 percent of the data breach were done by hacking, 15.6 percent to information theft done by company employees, 21 percent to lost laptops and other digital gadgets, 14 percent accidental publishing of sensitive consumer information and 11 percent breaches done by subcontractors.

Aviva Litan, vice president and analyst of Gartner, called for a more concerted effort among firms to secure and protect customer data.