2014: The Year of the MEGA Data Breach

[shalym]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I got the same email.

I got it too, but not to an email address that I ever gave to Home Depot. (I know this, because it's my work email) Interestingly, I didn't get notified on the email address that I DID give to Home Depot.

Shari

[WT Sharpe]

The Associated Press reported yesterday that the U.S. Postal Service was the latest target of a cyberattack. It appears that personal information of its employees including Social Security numbers may have been compromised.

And there was a front page article in our local paper yesterday about how cybercrime involving government sites is getting out of control. Unlike the public sector, there is no law stating that breeches involving .gov and .mil sites must be made public.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

The Associated Press reported yesterday that the U.S. Postal Service was the latest target of a cyberattack. It appears that personal information of its employees including Social Security numbers may have been compromised.

And there was a front page article in our local paper yesterday about how cybercrime involving government sites is getting out of control. Unlike the public sector, there is no law stating that breeches involving .gov and .mil sites must be made public.

That sounds a bit messed up since at least some of those Gov. computers likely hold the personal information of everyday people. I mean for example Social Security deals with the personal data on the citizens so I can't see how they could argue that they don't have a responsibility to let people know that their data has been compromised by a hacker.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by crich70

That sounds a bit messed up since at least some of those Gov. computers likely hold the personal information of everyday people. I mean for example Social Security deals with the personal data on the citizens so I can't see how they could argue that they don't have a responsibility to let people know that their data has been compromised by a hacker.

While I can't quote the entire AP article because of copyright concerns, here are a few highlights:

CYBERATTACKS IN U.S. GETTING OUT OF HAND
Even as billions are spent to protect federal data, the government still tussles with its biggest weakness – its own employees.
By Martha Mendoza
The Associated Press

A $10 BILLION-A-YEAR EFFORT to protect sensitive government data, from military secrets to Social Security numbers, is struggling to keep pace with an increasing number of cyberattacks and is unwittingly being undermined by federal employees and contractors.

At a time when intelligence officials say cybersecurity trumps terrorism as the No. 1 threat to the U.S. – and when breaches at businesses such as Home Depot and Target focus attention on data security – the federal government isn’t required to publicize its own data losses.

[A]ttackers have always found a way in, exposing tens of millions of sensitive and private records that include employee usernames and passwords and veterans’ medical files.

From 2009 to 2013, the number of reported breaches just on federal computer networks – the  .gov   and .mils – rose to 46,605 from 26,942, according to the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Last year, US-CERT responded to 228,700 cyberincidents involving federal agencies, companies that run critical infrastructure and contract partners. That’s more than double the incidents in 2009.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by shalym

I got it too, but not to an email address that I ever gave to Home Depot. (I know this, because it's my work email) Interestingly, I didn't get notified on the email address that I DID give to Home Depot.

Shari

Is it possible that you were notified via your email address on file with the credit card you use(d) at Home Depot? (If so, kudos to them. I regularly shop at Home Depot, use two different credit cards there, and neither of the credit card companies contacted me regarding the Home Depot breach.)

[Blossom]

I know I signed up for offers from Home Depot with the email the letter came from. I can't believe USPS has been hit. My FIL is retired from there I wonder if this effects him?

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Froide

Is it possible that you were notified via your email address on file with the credit card you use(d) at Home Depot? (If so, kudos to them. I regularly shop at Home Depot, use two different credit cards there, and neither of the credit card companies contacted me regarding the Home Depot breach.)

I don't have a credit card associated with that email address--as I said, it's a work email address, from a company that does corporate training. Never been used with anything associated with Home Depot. The only stores that it's really ever been used with is Best Buy and Staples...so how did it end up on a list at Home Depot?

Shari

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by shalym

I don't have a credit card associated with that email address--as I said, it's a work email address, from a company that does corporate training. Never been used with anything associated with Home Depot. The only stores that it's really ever been used with is Best Buy and Staples...so how did it end up on a list at Home Depot?

Shari

Could you have given it when shopping there? At checkout they ask for a email address or phone number.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I know I signed up for offers from Home Depot with the email the letter came from. I can't believe USPS has been hit. My FIL is retired from there I wonder if this effects him?

My son-in-law works for the post office, and I was wondering the same thing.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Could you have given it when shopping there? At checkout they ask for a email address or phone number.

Nope--I always give out one of my personal emails...the only reason I would ever use that email address is if I was buying something for the company. I've bought computers, printers, ink, software, for the company, but never building supplies, I promise.

Shari

[Ripplinger]

A few days ago I realized that I can't remember the last time my bank card actually lasted through its expiration date. Because of various hackings, my bank has reissued a new number to me the last 3 times. I almost made it to the end of the last card with only 8 more months to go!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

A few days ago I realized that I can't remember the last time my bank card actually lasted through its expiration date. Because of various hackings, my bank has reissued a new number to me the last 3 times. I almost made it to the end of the last card with only 8 more months to go!

Same here! Just when I get the the number memorize we're reissued a new one due to the breaches.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I was only signed up for special deals emails. Something to think about. Can we say here comes the spam. *sigh*

I received the same. I must have shopped at Home Depot during their breach as my bank is replacing my credit card.

Third time this year.