Despite this, and prior to recently released guidelines from the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission, there were no guidelines as to when a corporation should publicly disclose the loss of confidential information or disruption to a system caused by a cyber incident even where the incident caused financial losses.

FORBES: Disclosing Cyber Security Incidents: The SEC Weighs In

In England, attempts to disclose confidential information can readily be barred by the law there, which strongly protects matters that are considered confidential by the people involved.

FORBES: Talking about privacy, Tiger Woods, and the digital age on NYT.com

Finally, spare a thought for those doctors who are responsible for the care of celebrities in the media spotlight, and who may come under intense pressure from the press or others to disclose confidential information.

BBC: When do you break a patient's confidence?

The doctor was advised by MPS that she should not disclose information that the patient would have expected would be kept confidential.

BBC: When do you break a patient's confidence?

Like many venture firms, Kleiner doesn't disclose much detail about its investments, and the firm says that information on investment returns is confidential.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Silicon Valley's Green Energy Mistake