Roundup: CardSystems Hacked, 40 Million Credit Card Accounts Stolen
Filed in: Security — June 21st, 2005
I am sure you have heard about the news that millions credit card accounts stolen by hacker. It is probably the largest data theft in IT history!
However, it is not MasterCard nor Visa fault, the case is caused by a security problem in CardSystem, a payment processing company.
Who is CardSystems?
CardSystems is one of many companies that process electronic payments. The company handles more than $15 billion in card transactions annually for more than 105,000 small and medium-sized businesses, according to its Web site.
What does the system run?
Microsoft’s Windows 2000 operating system and IIS Server 5.0 (dang! dang!)
How did it happen?
…intruders were able to exploit software security vulnerabilities to install a rogue program on the network of CardSystems Solutions, MasterCard International spokeswoman Jessica Antle said. The program captured credit card data, she said.
How many credit cards stolen?
Of those exposed accounts, about 13.9 million are for MasterCard-branded cards, the company said in a statement. Some 20 million Visa-branded cards may have been affected and the remaining accounts were other brands, including American Express and Discover.
What has been stole?
The credit card numbers. Personal information like social security numbers or dates of birth are safe, no identity theft possible.
I am one of the victim, do I responsible for fraudulent transactions?
MasterCard, Visa, and Discover card holder are not responsible for fraudulent transactions, if any.
Source:
Credit card breach exposes 40 million accounts
Details emerge on credit card breach
Thought:
This is a big hit to e-commerce. I think now many people are afraid to use their credit card for online purchasing, right?
[off topic] While I was writting this, I got a call from CitiBank and gave me an offer to issue credit card, free three years annual fee plus free gift. “OMG! This is ironic! 
“, I speak myself and rejected his offer.
Well, I might accept his offer if I do not get my debit card yet. Too bad.
By the way, CitiFinancial lost 3.9 million customer data early this month.
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