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| 40 million at risk after Target card heist | 40 million at risk after Target card heist |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Payment details from up to 40 million credit cards could have been stolen after they were used in the stores of US retail giant Target. | Payment details from up to 40 million credit cards could have been stolen after they were used in the stores of US retail giant Target. |
| The retailer said it was investigating after discovering that thieves had gained access to its payment systems. | The retailer said it was investigating after discovering that thieves had gained access to its payment systems. |
| The data breach began around 29 November, known as Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. | The data breach began around 29 November, known as Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. |
| The attackers are believed to have been scooping up credit card details for almost three weeks. | The attackers are believed to have been scooping up credit card details for almost three weeks. |
| "We take this matter very seriously and are working with law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice," said Target boss Gregg Steinhafel in a statement. | "We take this matter very seriously and are working with law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice," said Target boss Gregg Steinhafel in a statement. |
| In addition, he said, the company was working with a data forensics firm to work out how the theft occurred. | In addition, he said, the company was working with a data forensics firm to work out how the theft occurred. |
| Data-stealing code | Data-stealing code |
| Target said the thieves had taken credit card numbers, names, expiration dates and security codes for the cards. | Target said the thieves had taken credit card numbers, names, expiration dates and security codes for the cards. |
| It urged people who shopped at its stores in the vulnerable period to check credit card records and query unusual activity. | It urged people who shopped at its stores in the vulnerable period to check credit card records and query unusual activity. |
| "We regret any inconvenience this may cause," said Mr Steinhafel. | "We regret any inconvenience this may cause," said Mr Steinhafel. |
| Security researcher Brian Krebs, writing about the breach, said sources at credit card payment processing firms had told him the thieves had installed data-stealing code on to card-swipe machines at tills in all 1,797 Target stores. | |
| It is not yet clear how the attackers managed to get their malicious program on to point-of-sale equipment in the stores. | It is not yet clear how the attackers managed to get their malicious program on to point-of-sale equipment in the stores. |
| The thieves stole data between Thanksgiving and 15 December, said Target. | The thieves stole data between Thanksgiving and 15 December, said Target. |
| The US Secret Service, which has official responsibility for investigating financial fraud, told Reuters it was looking into the breach. | |
| The largest ever credit card breach at a US retailer took place in 2007 when cyber-thieves managed to steal information related to almost 46 million credit and debit cards from TJ Maxx and Marshalls. | |
| The thieves amassed the huge cache of data over an 18 month period after penetrating the retailers' computer network. |