Online shopping grows despite data breaches

Week after week, thieves break into corporate computer systems to steal customer lists, email addresses and credit card numbers. Large data breaches get overshadowed by even larger ones.

Yet people are turning over personal information to online retailers, social networks and other services in growing numbers. The point at which people lose trust in the websites they deal with appears further away than ever before, if it exists at all, as shopping, socializing and gaming online becomes deeply embedded in modern life.

People have come to accept that sharing information is the price of a meaningful, connected life online, even if they don't like it.

"We are clearly schizophrenic about this technology," said Jim Dempsey, an expert on Internet privacy at the Center for Democracy & Technology. "We love it, we use it, we expect it to work, and we've woven it into our daily lives, professionally, socially and personally. But we really don't trust it, and we do get upset when our data is lost or stolen."

Companies collecting the personal details have little incentive to offer the best privacy protections. So far, people haven't demanded that companies do better by walking away from their gadgets, online retailers or social networks.

"I know I take the risk," said Lance Locurto, 44. "It's more convenient." The South Florida banker said he buys almost everything online, even though hackers got into both his iTunes and Amazon accounts in the past few months.

Jim Pachetti, 47, a laid-off carpenter looking at an iPhone at an Apple store outside Buffalo, N.Y., said he's resigned to the fact that breaches happen.

"All my information is out there and someone has it, and that's just the way it is," he said.

It may take government regulation to force companies to do better.