In 2007, more than 79 million records were compromised in the United States, a fourfold increase from 2006. Many contained Social Security and/or credit card numbers.

While government and private entities are spending more and more on firewalls, encryption, and other security measures, the fixes are often too little and too late, with hackers a step or two ahead.

With wireless data transmission more common, hackers are increasingly expected to target a major vulnerability, writes Mark Jewell for the Associated Press. Eavesdroppers are rapidly learning to bypass security safeguards (Ariz Daily Star 12/31/07).

Breaches reported by the Identity Theft Resource Center represent only a portion of those that occur.

Some are from human error, such as employees losing laptops, as opposed to hacking.

Additional information:

• “British NHS Loses Data; Physicians to Boycott Database,” AAPS News of the Day 12/17/07.
• AAPS letter opposing H.R. 4157, the Health Information Technology Promotion Act, Feb 6, 2006.
• AAPS comments on national health information infrastructure, Jan 15, 2005.