Figures produced by the Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center show sthat there has been a four-fold increase in the amount of data theft over the last year.

The group shows that more than 79 million records were reported compromised in the United States through December 18, 2007. That's a nearly four-fold increase from the nearly 20 million records reported in all of 2006.

According to Wired, another group, Attrition.org, estimates more than 162 million records compromised through December 21 - both in the U.S. and overseas, unlike the other group's U.S.-only list. Attrition reported 49 million last year.

Both groups see the situation getting worse in the coming year as companies are forced by law to make public statements when data loss happens.

More here.