[Dataloss] follow-up: 41 million credit/debit card numbers compromised

[security curmudgeon]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Forno <rforno at infowarrior.org>

11 charged in connection with credit card fraud

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO – 16 hours ago

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iL9Fn3VNKRc00RHOLhI-cC-qEVwwD92CBBI80

NEW YORK (AP) — The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it had 
charged 11 people in connection with the hacking of nine major U.S. 
retailers and the theft and sale of more than 41 million credit and debit 
card numbers.

It is believed to be the largest hacking and identity theft case ever 
prosecuted by the Department of Justice. The charges include conspiracy, 
computer intrusion, fraud and identity theft.

The indictment returned Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Boston alleges 
that the people charged hacked into the wireless computer networks of 
retailers including TJX Cos., BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston 
Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW.

"While technology has made our lives much easier it has also created new 
vulnerabilities," U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said in a statement. 
"This case clearly shows how strokes on a keyboard with a criminal purpose 
can have costly results."

The indictment alleges that the hackers installed programs to capture card 
numbers, passwords and account information, and then concealed the data in 
computer servers that they controlled in the U.S. and Eastern Europe.

[..]