Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

In Target, hackers found a gold mine -- with easy access
NYT/Pioneer Press ^ | 1-18-14 | Elizabeth A. Harris, Nicole Perlroth, Nathaniel Popper and Hilary Stout

Posted on 01/19/2014 10:35:43 AM PST by TurboZamboni

It was, in essence, a cybercriminal's dream.

For months, an amorphous group of Eastern European hackers had been poking around the networks of major U.S. retailers, searching for loose portals that would take them deep into corporate systems.

In early November, before the holiday shopping season began, the hackers found what they had been looking for -- a wide path into Target and beyond.

Entering through a digital gateway, the criminals discovered that Target's systems were astonishingly open -- lacking the virtual walls and motion detectors found in secure networks like many banks'. Without those safeguards, the thieves moved swiftly into the company's computer servers containing Target's customer data and to the crown jewel: the in-store systems where consumers swipe their credit and debit cards and enter their PINs.

(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hackers; target
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last
To: TurboZamboni

“Those cards will continue to have value for quite a while. These cards will still be available for purchase a year from now.”

Which is why EVERYONE whose card was stolen should have IMMEDIATELY cancelled their accounts and obtained new cards with new account numbers, despite the BS from Target and others that “monitoring” your bill for a couple of years was all that was necessary.


21 posted on 01/19/2014 11:40:42 AM PST by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TurboZamboni

BS and four wetawds to write this drivel.

Inside job period.


22 posted on 01/19/2014 12:07:19 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TurboZamboni

Easy access...

Yeah, that’s what they want you to think. Do folks think the Department of Defense and other government sites hit by Wikileaks were easy targets?

Sorry, but I don’t think Target was an easy touch. There are people out there who are very crafty, and can break these systems.

Frankly, I think it would be a hoot if someone were to wait until the NSA states it doesn’t do something, and then release information taken from them that shows they do in fact do it.


23 posted on 01/19/2014 12:08:28 PM PST by DoughtyOne (ZERO is still zero, and John Kerry is a mock-puppet!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grania

Why not?

They’re insured.,

It’s the credit cards company problemo.


24 posted on 01/19/2014 12:08:54 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

Same here. I use Amex for everything. If they detect fraud they issue a new card immediately. Any disputed charge comes off immediately. Safer than cash.


25 posted on 01/19/2014 12:15:09 PM PST by sheana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sheana
Same here. I use Amex for everything. If they detect fraud they issue a new card immediately. Any disputed charge comes off immediately. Safer than cash.

I've stopped paying with my debit and have switched to Amex as well.

26 posted on 01/19/2014 12:23:32 PM PST by Sans-Culotte ( Pray for Obama- Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!

Right you are!


27 posted on 01/19/2014 12:44:24 PM PST by Finalmente
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Vendome; grania
Why not?

They’re insured.,

It’s the credit cards company problem.

Target is self insured.

28 posted on 01/19/2014 5:38:40 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your teaching is my delight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: UriÂ’el-2012; grania

Yep.


29 posted on 01/19/2014 5:44:16 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: rawhide
I only made one purchase at Target during the infected known timespan. So far, nothing from my credit card company.

Near the bottom of the long article it stated that those numbers will still be sold a year from now.

If I had shopped at Target I would change all my numbers. I'm just saying.

Plus, I will now go back to checks when I don't use cash.

30 posted on 01/20/2014 6:30:56 AM PST by The Bat Lady (I will be voting against Cornyn in the TX primary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: The Bat Lady

You would think Visa would notify me? Maybe they feel my card is okay? It was a credit card I used, not a debit card.


31 posted on 01/20/2014 6:45:30 AM PST by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
Where is Target’s IT department? In Bangalore? Likely half of it is there.

More likely all or nearly all.

Good security does not come cheap and Target's goal is to maximize quarterly profits.

Most likely Target out sources IT to a company nominally located in the US or Canada which in turn has it's work done in India. Just like the ObamaCare web site.
32 posted on 01/20/2014 7:16:01 AM PST by khelus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!

I forgot to add that Neiman Marcus and at least three other undisclosed retailers were hit. Probably same scenario.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/target-neiman-marcus-data-breach-faq,news-18199.html


33 posted on 01/20/2014 7:21:14 AM PST by khelus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson