Aug 16

Albertsons hacked. Credit card info stolen.

These days, we know you are also concerned about the security of your payment card data, and we work hard to protect it. Unfortunately, like many other retailers over the past few years, Albertsons has recently learned of an unauthorized access to credit and debit card payment information in some of our stores. The appropriate federal law enforcement authorities have been notified, and BANNER has been working closely with data forensics experts and its third party IT services provider, SUPERVALU, to determine if customer credit or debit card payment information was actually taken. Based on our current investigation, it appears that the unauthorized access may have started as early as June 24, 2014 in our stores, and on July 17, 2014, action was taken to contain the incident. From information we have at this time, there is no evidence that any customer data was taken. The investigation is ongoing.

As if the widely known hack involving Target stores last year wasn’t bad enough.  Now Albertsons and SuperValu grocery stores are reporting that they have been hacked and about 228 stores were impacted.  The security breach occurred between June 22nd and July 17th and only impacted stores in in Southern California, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Southern Utah.  The grocer says that the security hole has been plugged but if you live in one of the impacted states and shopped at Albertsons during those dates, Brendan Spaar recommends that you watch your credit and bank accounts very carefully over the next few months.

Should we go back to using cash only at stores?  It would seem that even with compliance standards like PCI, retail stores are not immune to attack.  Hackers are centering their attention on the payment terminals at these stores more than ever.  So far no one has been arrested or charged with the Albertsons break in and it is doubtful that anyone ever will be.  Brendan Spaar advises everyone that he knows not to use a debit card except for at an ATM.

 

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/15/technology/security/albertsons-supervalu-hack/