Whilst the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) in the UK has announced that with effect from 6th April 2010 the maximum fines it can impose increase from £5,000 to £500,000, in the US, FINRA has hit DA Davidson with a $375,000 fine for failing to safeguard confidential client information. A group of criminals hacked into the firm’s computer and got access to data for approximately 192,000 customers. Despite the fact that after the breach, DA Davidson contacted and cooperated with authorities, they now must pay a $375,000 fine to FINRA because of their failure to protect client information.