Inside the Target Security Breach
Is it safe to use your credit card in the U.S.?
1 / 16
The Largest Security Breach in the Nation - The United States is one of most sought after targets for credit-card hackers in the world, mainly due to the easy to decode magnetic strip used to store personal information on credit cards. As a result of Target’s credit card security breach, which exposed the personal information of millions of Americans, many are demanding answers for consumers. Keep reading to find out the latest details and how the security breach could affect you. — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
2 / 16
Target - Target broke the trust of more than 40 million customers who visited the store from Black Friday through Dec. 15 when it announced on Dec. 20 that credit and debit card information and possibly the social security numbers were at risk of being exposed to hackers. The security breach marked the largest of its kind in America.(Photo: REUTERS/Anthony Bolante)
3 / 16
What Went Wrong? - Typically credit card hackers attack company databases where personal information is stored, but according to James Wester, research director of IDC Financial Insights, the Target attack likely involved an attack on Target's point-of-sale (POS) system. (Photo: AP Photo/Phil Coale, File)
4 / 16
How Do Credit and Debit Cards Work? - When you swipe your card to make a purchase at a store, immediately an electronic conversation between your bank and the store’s bank begins. The store's bank, which pays the store right away for the item the customer bought, needs to make sure the customer's bank approves the transaction and will pay the store's bank. On average, the conversation takes 1.4 seconds.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
5 / 16
What Type of Information Is Stored on a Credit or Debit Card? - U.S. credit cards rely on a magnetic strip (the black stripe) on the back of the card, which uses the same technology as cassette tapes. Magnetic strips store your primary account number, the user's name, a country code, an expiration date for the card and several characters of information. (Photo: PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 16
Is the Magnetic Strip Easy for Hackers to Decode? - Most countries such as China, the U.K., and Canada use chip and PIN technology, which is harder for hackers to decode. As oppose to swiping, you put the card into a terminal then enter a PIN or sign your name. (Photo: Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT /Landov)
7 / 16
Is Credit Card Security an Issue? - Despite global credit and debit card fraud hitting a record $11.27 billion last year, the card system in the U.S. remains outdated. On average 11,571,900 Americans report identity theft annually.(Photo: The Press-Register /Landov)
8 / 16
What Is Target Doing About the Security Breach? - Target is working with the Secret Service and the Department of Justice to figure out what caused the security breach. However Target has yet to reveal its findings to consumers. It offered shoppers 10 percent storewide discounts for two days and free credit monitoring. While a company rep claimed there is no evidence that PINs were at risk, consumers still are demanding answers.(Photo: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
9 / 16
Chase Enforces Limit for Card Holders - Chase and JP Morgan reached out to more than 2 million of its customers on Dec. 21 to alert them of temporary restrictions on their debit and credit cards. Restrictions included a maximum limit of $100 cash withdrawals and $300 in purchases per day. Less than 10 percent of Chase customers are affected, a Chase spokeswoman confirmed.(Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Photo By Chris Hondros/Getty Images
10 / 16
Card Companies Monitor for Fraud - Target gave Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express the card numbers of those who may have been impacted, so that they could monitor the cards for fraud.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT