Target changes course confirming pin data was stolen when the retailer was hacked. The company believes the pins are safe and secure, but that hasn’t stopped customers from calling their banks. This news comes after the breach that left 40 million customers’ payment info in the wrong hands. According to computer forensics expert Mark Lanterman, some pin numbers are embedded in the data right on your card’s magnetic strip. “Even if Target had the best security measures in place, the information that banks have chosen to include on your magnetic stripe may have been compromised”. For the first time on Friday, Target confirmed such pin numbers were stolen, but Target says the hackers still can’t access them, stating that PIN information was fully encrypted and inaccessible. Still, Lanterman worries that hackers could have stolen the pin numbers another way, by reporting the key strokes shoppers used to punch in their pins. Either way, Lanterman says there is only one sure solution. “I think it’s important to take control of your own security and simply order a new card”. When asked why Target and the banks have not advised people to do this, Lanterman says, “I would estimate it’s probably five dollars per card to reissue. But also, it’s the holidays, and if you’re cancelling your card, you’re not spending money”. Despite all of these issues, Lanterman praises Target’s overall response to the breach, saying it has been quick, efficient, just not without a few speed bumps.

свернуть