Rather, you should be asking why high-profile, extremely public break-ins are on the rise. The number reported by the companies affected has been extremely low - the same level as normal? - with the vast majority reported and publicized by hackers.

Boredom? New high? We aren't talking about a group of entirely rational, of-age people.

I don't think so. There has definitely been an increase in breakins in the past few months.

Source?

the news?

That's just because the Lulzsec/Anon stuff is the "flavour of the month" for the media lately.

"The news" is not a reliable source of frequency for an activity, as they go through phases with what their favourite topic is for that period of time.