"Grand Theft Info": The Biggest Data Theft Cases (PHOTOS)

Earlier this week, federal prosecutors charged Miami, Florida resident Albert Gonzalez -- a prolific hacker known online as "soupnazi" -- with stealing 130 million credit card accounts by hacking into retail computer systems. It was dubbed the biggest data theft in history.

Though identity and data theft has increasingly become part of the public consciousness, your data may not be getting any safer. The number of reported data breaches in 2008 increased by almost 50 percent from 2007, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center's annual report . While 35 million data records were likely breached last year, there are a handful of especially massive cases of information theft that have hurt consumers and ruined lives over the past decade.

Gonzalez, for his part, broke his own previous record of 40 million accounts stolen. But as far as notorious identity thieves go, he's certainly not alone. We've compiled a list some of the worst incidents of data theft in the past several years. Check out our PHOTOS below.

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Hackers Steal Info Of 46M TJX Customers

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Vote and Share Choose Your Top 5 Petty Larceny Grand Theft Data Now Make Your Own Top 5 And Share with Your Friends RANK: AVERAGE:  OUT OF 10 Over the course of two years, a group of hackers pilfered the personal info of 45.7 million customers of TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx and Marshalls. The group used stolen credit card information to buy Wal-Mart gift cards that were then used purchase expensive electronics from other stores. The leader of the group was sentenced to 5 years in prison in 2007.

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Comments

[duze]

The more we learn the less we know. Who the h3ll is watching the store. As Americans we find out on a daily basis that someone is always asleep at the wheel. Every great tradegy is a result of someone not doing their job.

[BabblingBrooks]

Speaking of crime and theft, has anybody noted the Broadview Security commercials?

Man busts down door.
Woman screams and runs up stairs.
Phone rings: "This is Broadview Security. How can I help you?
Woman: A man just broke in the front door!
Broadview: Was he a big white guy in a sweatshirt with a hood pulled up?
Woman: Yes, how did you know?
Broadview: We just know such things, ma'am. I'll send help right away.
Woman: How soon will they arrive?
Broadview: Oh, probably a half an hour or so!
Woman: What if he comes back in the meantime?
Broadview: Oh, don't worry, our alarm always scares them away!
Woman: I feel soooooo safe! Thank you so much!

[zombywulf]

I think it's time to dump the credit cards, between the all to easy data hacking and the astronomical interest rates and hidden fees, it's time to tell these blood sucking banks to go to H3LL. but it won't make any difference, they go bankrupt, we bail them out the executives get multi million dollar bonuses just for showing up.