True cost of personal data breaches.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Brief article

At a time when millions of people's personal information can be exposed by a single data breach, a global survey--conducted by Ipsos for Canada's Centre for International Governance Innovation, Waterloo, Ontario--finds that 73% of citizens in 24 countries never actually have been notified that their information has been compromised due to a data breach.

Financially, at least, data breaches do not seem to cause individuals much hardship. Of those notified that their data had been compromised, 47% report suffering no personal financial losses as a result of their stolen information. Another 44% indicate that the loss of their data cost them between one cent and $1,000. Yet, the intangible costs of data breaches can be quite significant.

"Although citizens largely report minimal financial losses from personal data breaches, many of the effects may be less visible," notes Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of the Department of...