Theft - Definition

The BERR Information Security Breaches Survey 2008 found that the level of theft in smaller companies is lower than two years ago but it remains a major problem for large businesses with over 28% of them affected, usually several times a year. The most common type of theft remains physical theft of computer equipment.

Read this section for more on:

• The value of information
• Different types of information

The Value of Information

All information has value, sometimes trivial, although the list below shows some examples that are anything but:

• Medical records
• Financial transactions
• Building plans (especially if the building needs to be secure, such as a bank branch)

Value can sometimes be measured in straightforward monetary terms but there are other ways of looking at it. For example, the unauthorised disclosure of information. Loss of confidentiality could:

• Cause unnecessary personal embarrassment
• Damage a company's reputation
• Affect someone's personal safety
• Cause the loss of a commercial patent or copyright

Different Types of Information

Most information types have value. They can also be of value to competitors, and may even be stolen to order. Such information might include:

• Customer lists
• Research and development details
• Marketing plans
• Product launches
• Staff records

To see if you are at risk from information theft, check the Theft Risk  page.

If you have suffered information theft, check the Information Theft Recovery  page.

If you would like to know more about preventing information theft, check the Theft Prevention  page. See also our Theft Home page for further information.