Posted on 12/27/2013 10:10:54 AM PST by John W
Target confirmed Friday that debit card PIN data was stolen in its recent massive breach, reversing its earlier stance that the codes were not part of the hack.
However, the retailer believes the PINs remain "safe and secure." In a statement, Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder said the PINs are "strongly encrypted" and were never stored on Target's systems in plain text.
In other words, from the moment a customer entered a PIN after swiping a debit card, Target's payment system translated that number into an indecipherable string of code. Target claims that the PINs remained encrypted after they were stolen.
Not only are the PINs encrypted, Target says the numbers can only be decrypted by the independent payment processor, which holds the decryption key. That key is necessary to translate the unintelligible code back into the PIN. Target said the key was not stolen as part of the breach, because it never existed within the company's systems.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Target is non-union?
Target has been pro-gay, anti-gun since the 2008 elections. Why would any right-minded individual shop there?
I shop at any retailer, according to where I am (location-wise), the products carried, the pricing (which includes the cost of the product in driving) and the general environment of the store and the nature of the help (i.e., how they help the customers)..
I buy things for myself and my family - not for anyone else. The retailers can take care of their own internal business. If they don’t treat me as a good customer - that’s when it will go against them, as far as I’m concerned.
Because their selection is awesome, the prices are great, and the locations are convenient. Same set of reasons I shop anywhere.
Never paid by card as I am a cash guy. People who use their debit cards annoy me as they are mostly too stupid to use the debit card machine and they hold up the line.
BTW, what is a PIN?
New classification: these cards are now SSS = safe, secure, and stolen
Their pricing is reasonable.. ie 12 pack gillette disposable razors. Target $7.99. Walgreens $11.99
Some of their prices seem awesome to me also, in a negative way.
Personal Identification Number, a password used to access an automated teller machine or other secured system
“Walgreens $11.99”
Don’t understand why anyone shops at Walgreens. There prices are consistently 30% higher than almost all other stores. And their pharmacies are absolutely the worst in my neck of the woods.
looks to me like like Target is about as trust worthy as the white hut.
Best prices on cat litter, at least close by.
It’s the number you use to authorize the retailer in taking the money out of your account (when using a debit card). It’s also the same number you use when going to an ATM machine, to get cash out.
A little eye candy never hurts.
So encrypted PIN data was stolen, which doesn’t do the hackers much good. They can’t use the forged cards at ATMs or use them as debit cards for purchases, but they can still use them as credit cards and sign for purchases in stores. Still sucks though.
They cancel my daughter’s credit card on Christmas Eve while she was shopping for her 5 kids.She is sorry she ever shopped at target.
stuberns98 wrote:
“BTW, what is a PIN?”
I’m glad you asked that!
It’s those four numbers you use when you call in your bank telephone number, to check the balance in your checking account, or for those that use plastic cards, those numbers on that wierd thing at the supermarket, or as some would ask you, “What is the last four of your Social Security Number?”
I made a huge mistake in accepting a contract job involving new equipment installation in Walgreens stores. The managing and planning behind it could have come from right out of the pointy haired boss’s manual. I still have nightmares about it.
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