Target Hack Affected 70 Million Customers

Target Hack Affected 70 Million Customers

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Jan 10, 2014

Target Hack Affected 70 Million CustomersRemember the 40 million shoppers who got "scrooged" during the holidays by the sophisticated Target hackers? Well, guess what? Through further investigation, Target Corp. issued a statement that it was a bigger hack than expected. It’s going to end up being more than 70 million who were affected, making it the largest retail breach in history, according to David Kennedy, former U.S. Marine Corps cyber-intelligence analyst.

To date, the largest known breach at a U.S. retailer was in 2007 at TJX Companies, Inc., which includes stores like T-J-Maxx, Marshalls and Homegoods. Data from more than 90 million credit cards was stolen over approximately an 18 month period. But, what’s so concerning about the Target breach is the vast amount of data that was breached within only a 19 day period.

So, what all was stolen?

According to Target spokeswoman, Molly Snyder:

  • Names;
  • Mailing addresses;
  • Phone numbers;
  • Email address of customers; and
  • Those who swiped their cards during the 19-day breach period of November 27, 2012 to December 15, 2012.

(Personally, I wonder if pharmacy information was stolen as well, as Target Pharmacy is my pharmacy of choice. Anyone else out there wondering the same?)

“I know that it is frustration for our guests to learn that this information was taken, and we are truly sorry they are having to endure this,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chief executive of Target Corp.

Target Corp. is taking an active approach in responding to this breach by trying to reach customers for whom it has email address to inform them of the breach. Should you receive this email, be forewarned that it will not ask you to provide any personal information, and be careful not to respond to any emails claiming to be from Target.

The silver lining from this breach? Target customers will not be held liable for any cost of the fraudulent charges, and Target is offering one year of FREE credit monitoring and identity theft protection to all customers who shopped in U.S. stores.  Details on enrollment procedures will come out next week, but take note that the sign-up period will extend for 3 months, giving Target shoppers plenty of time to enroll. Customers will have three months to enroll in this program.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.