Target Credit Card Breach – More Personal Data Stolen New Evidence Indicates

It now appears that when Target was hacked back in November, much more sensitive consumer data was stolen than first thought, said Target today. The Hackers apparently got much more than just credit card numbers and pins. Was your credit card information stolen as part of this Target hack?

Today Target said that the most recent information they have learned now indicates that the hackers stole the personal information of at least 70 million customers which included names, mailing addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses.


Originally, it was thought that only 40 million consumers were affected, and that the data was limited to card numbers and encrypted pin numbers. The new information means that consumers could be much more at risk with so much personal information stolen.

State prosecutors are calling the hack into Target’s customer data the second-biggest retail cyber attack on record. Consumers should contact their credit card companies and likely have their cards replaced, or at the very least closely monitor their credit reports and credit card account activity.

Additionally, it appears that the stolen data was not limited to shoppers within the November 27 and December 15 timeframe. It now appears that the theft of information goes back much further.

According to reports, both Target and the major credit card issuers have said customers will have zero liability for the cost of any fraudulent charges. To help prevent something like this in the future, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is putting forth a new version of a 2005 bill that aims to improve how companies protect consumer data from cyber theft.