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Apr 04, 2008 01:04:43 GMT<BR>
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Sophos has reminded companies of the dangers of hackers breaking into their corporate systems, following the latest announcement from a firm that it has been the victim of a data breach.<BR>
US motoring parts retailer, Advance Auto Parts, has announced on its website that hackers have gained access to the financial information of 56,000 of its customers, through an attack which affected 14 of its stores worldwide.<BR>
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Details of how the information was stolen have not been made public, and the identities of the hackers are currently unknown. Advance Auto Parts says it is working with the authorities to assist in the investigation.<BR>
According to the company, the affected stores are based in Atlanta (Georgia), College Park (Georgia), Columbus (Ohio), Covington (Louisiana), Canal Fulton (Ohio), Garden City (Georgia), Gretna (Louisiana), Mansfield (Ohio), Memphis (Tennessee), Natchez (Mississippi), Norcross (Georgia), Paoli (Indiana), Richmond (Virginia), and Syracuse (New York).<BR>
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News of Advance Auto Parts' data breach has followed in the footsteps of other higher profile incidents such as the loss by Hannafords supermarket chain of 4.2 million credit card details, and last year's announcement by TJ Maxx that hackers had stolen information on 45 million credit card transactions.<BR>
"Advance Auto Parts joins a growing list of companies who have suffered from an embarrassing data breach, and this news may rattle the confidence of customers," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "All firms would be wise to look long and hard at their own security to make sure that they are doing everything possible to reduce the chances that they will be the next to fall victim."<BR></body>
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