RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The slowdown in the global economy has certainly not translated into a corresponding slowdown in criminal efforts to compromise personal information, according to Risk Based Security, Inc. The total number of records exposed during the first 9 months of 2011 is 176,385,870 compared to 88,473,589 records for all of 2010. An even more alarming statistic is that as of October 2011, there have now been over 1 billion records exposed according to research by the Open Security Foundation.
Risk Based Security's 3rd Quarter "Data Breach Intelligence" report just released for customers shows that nearly 50 percent of the reported data breaches in 2011 involved retail businesses, and those breaches accounted for nearly 25 percent of the total records exposed so far in 2011. Organizations providing medical related services accounted for nearly 31 percent of the data breaches reported in the first nine months of 2011. This same sector represented 29 percent of the reported 2010 breaches.
The Data Breach Intelligence report also revealed that a hack or computer-based intrusion was responsible for 25 percent of the 2011 breaches, totaling 147,496,666 records. This represents nearly 84 percent of the total number of exposed records in 2011. Although stolen laptops remains the number one breach type all-time, the hack breach type has replaced stolen laptop at number one for the past two years.
The latest information and research conducted by Risk Based Security suggests that organizations in all industries need to take note of the fact that they face a very real threat from security breaches. Whether it is the constantly increasing security threats, ever-evolving IT technologies or limited security resources, data breaches and the costs related to response are escalating quickly. Organizations need more timely and accurate analytics in order to better prioritize security spending based on their unique risks.
About the Data Breach Intelligence Report
Data Breach Intelligence is possible through the partnership and combined resources of the Open Security Foundation and Risk Based Security, Inc. It is designed to provide clients with insight into the details behind each reported data breach to better focus their information security and risk management programs. The report includes the results of every day research based on aggregating media reports, news feeds, blogs, websites, and breach notification letters looking for new data breaches and updates to known breaches.
About Risk Based Security, Inc.
Risk Based Security equips organizations with security intelligence, data breach analytics, risk management services and on-demand security solutions to establish customized risk-based programs to address information security and compliance challenges. We provide clear guidance and ensure that organizations are able to implement the right security based on grounded data while making solutions affordable. For more information, please visit http://www.riskbasdesecurity.com/ or call 855-RBS-RISK.
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