That headline shouldn’t be much of a shocker. The FTC has gathered statistical information on complaints received. Click here for the link to the original story from CNET. You can see each year it increases.
With data breaches like Heartland Payment Systems will add to those numbers in 2009 so protect yourself as much as you possibly can.
Kansas University Jayhawks put it the big hurt on the Missouri Tigers today. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!
Stay safe and have a great week this week!
I wrote about the Heartland Payment Systems breach that was announced on January 20, 2009. Financial institutions all across North America have been contacting their customers in the past few weeks informing them that their credit card or debit card has been compromised due to this large breach. I personally know many folks affected where I live in the great Mid-west. They’ve got their letters telling them a new card is on its way.
I believe this breach will surpass the breach that TJMaxx had. Their final total was around 94 million cards that were compromised. This one, I believe, will surpass the 100 million total. There is a site that has been reporting what banks have contacted them stating that they have been affected by this breach. It is far from complete. Click here to see an update from the site bankinfosecurity.com.
Hope you have all had a great week. Friday is just around the corner. Have a fabulous weekend. And of course, Rock Chalk Jayhawk…Let’s kick the Wildcats behind Saturday!!
This week on Tuesday, the busiest news day here in the United States, an
announcement was made by Heartland Payment Systems that they uncovered
malicious software in their processing system. They ONLY process about 100
million transactions each month so surely this isn’t that big of a deal.
It is early on in the investigation, but this data breach may even
de-throne TJX and their 94 million cards compromised back in 2006-2007.
This company serves more than 250,000 businesses ranging from restaurants,
retailers, convenience stores including pay-at-the-pump, to payroll
systems.
According to the New York Times, the malicious code was introduced into the Heartland Payment System’s infrastructure as early asMay 2008. And Heartland didn’t actually take the matter seriously until late Fall of 2008. They were contacted by VISA and MasterCard twice before they took this seriously. Then they chose inauguration day to make its announcement. Precious!
I would suggest to everyone to monitor closely your credit card statements and bank accounts if you like to use your debit card. Report any fraudulent charges immediately to your card issuer. Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a report of small charges, as little as .25 cents run through many credit card accounts. Some theorize someone is trying to find out if illegally obtained credit card numbers will work before making larger charges.
From Heartland’s own special website www.2008breach.com, they are saying that this may be the result of widespread global cyber fraud operation and that the US Secret Service and the US Department of Justice are involved in the investigation.
UPDATE: I do know that banks are currently contacting customers who may have had a credit or debit card compromised in this data breach.
Computer Security Weblog 