Clothing store chain Eddie Bauer has said that its USA retail stores’ point-of-sale (PoS) systems were infected with malware earlier this year, potentially giving hackers access to customers’ payment card information.
Advertisement
As part of the investigation, it was determined that customers’ payment card information used at Eddie Bauer retail stores on various dates between January 2, 2016 and July 17, 2016 may have been accessed. Purchases made over its online retail services were also not affected.
All of Eddie Bauer’s North American stores were targeted by credit card thieves this year.
Eddie Bauer said it had taken measures to strengthen the security of its point-of-sale systems to prevent a similar hack in the future.
Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
If you recently used a debit or credit card at Eddie Bauer, your card information could be compromised.
Eddie Bauer says not all transactions at its stores were affected, but it is still offering identity protection services to everyone who used a card to make a purchase during the period of the breach.
The company said thursday it found and removed malware from registers at about 350 stores.
While a third of retailers surveyed by Tripwire said that a breach involving personal data had occurred at their companies, implementation of breach detection technology has nevertheless remained flat. Hackers have been going after PoS and payment card systems for several years, particularly those at retailers and hotels that see a high volume of transactions.
It does say that it’s notifying affected customers as fast as it can. Earlier this week, a major hotel chain announced it had become a victim. In addition, companies with larger revenues monitor their systems less frequently: 66% of IT professionals working for organizations with revenues of less than $100 million check their compliance at least weekly, while just 55% of those working at organizations with revenues of more than $100 million said they do so. Security experts say these targets are more attractive than individual consumers because the payoff is potentially much greater.
Advertisement
HEI says the breach has been contained and that it’s continuing to work with law enforcement. Despite that work still being in progress, the hotel claims that “individuals can safely use payment cards at our properties”.
