Target: The Largest Data Breach/Attack

1217 Words3 Pages

In December 2013, Target was attacked by a cyber-attack due to a data breach. Target is a widely known retailer that has millions of consumers flocking every day to the retailer to partake in the stores wonders. The Target Data Breach is now known as the largest data breach/attack surpassing the TJX data breach in 2007. “The second-biggest attack struck TJX Companies, the parent company of TJMaxx and Marshall’s, which said in 2007 that about 45 million credit cards and debit cards had been compromised.” (Timberg, Yang, & Tsukayama, 2013) The data breach occurred to Target was a strong swift kick to the guts to not only the retailer/corporation, but to employees and consumers. The December 2013 data breach, exposed Target in a way that many would not expect to see and happen to any major retailer/corporation.

How It Happened

The December 2013 data breach exposed the underbelly of Target, to not only the nation but to the world. The type of data that was stolen during the data breach was information on guest members. This information included guest members names, addresses (physical and e-mail), and/or phone numbers. This information did not include guest members’ social security numbers. The data breach occurred when hackers, according to Target Corporation (2014), “criminals forced their way into our system, gaining access to guest credit and debit card information.” The Target data breach has affected more than 70 million Target guest members.

The breach started through a contracting company called Fazio Mechanical Services, Inc. (FSM). FSM is a HVAC contractor “connected to Target’s systems to do electronic billing, contract submission, and project management.” (Goche & De Metz, 2014) The start of the data breach madness beg...

... middle of paper ...

...om http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/02/email-attack-on-vendor-set-up-breach-at-target/#more-24313

Riley, M., Elgin, B., Lawrence, D., & Matlack , C. (2014, March 13). Target Missed Warnings in Epic Hack of Credit Card Data - Businessweek. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-13/target-missed-alarms-in-epic-hack-of-credit-card-data

Target Corporation (2014). Payment Card Issue FAQ: Data Breach FAQ. Retrieved from https://corporate.target.com/about/shopping-experience/payment-card-issue-FAQ#q5888

Timberg, C., Yang, J. L., & Tsukayama, H. (2013, December 19). Target says 40 million credit, debit cards may have been compromised in security breach. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/target-data-breach-affects-40-million-accounts-payment-info-compromised/2013/12/19/5cc71f22-68b1-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html

Show More
Related

  • Target Corporation: Report On Long-Term Financing Policy And Capital Structure

    1647 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to www.targetcorp.com, Target is an upscale discount retail chain that sells quality products at attractive prices, and prides itself on clean, spacious, and guest-friendly stores. Target is the second largest "general merchandise" retailer (behind Wal-Mart); selling almost anything one would need to complete the "one stop shop", especially with the addition of the SuperTarget stores. The first Target opened in Roseville, Minnesota in 1962. Since then, 1,330 stores located in forty-seven different states, which includes the 141 SuperTarget stores, have opened nationwide. Target also has twenty-two distribution centers located in nineteen states. In addition to the vast number of store locations, Target also has other businesses that include: Target.com, Target Financial Services, Associated Merchandising Corporation, and Target commercial Interiors. Through all the key businesses, Target employs nearly 300,000 people from diverse backgrounds. The current Chairman and CEO of Target is Bob Ulrich.

    Read More

  • Target Security Breach Case Study

    497 Words  | 1 Pages

    After the breach, many Target customers refused to shop at their stores due to losing trust in the company. Target’s security breach was not an isolated incident; numerous other companies have faced similar security breaches such as Home Depot, Neiman Marcus, Sony, and this could even happen on your own personal home computer. As a Target cardholder and loyal customer for many years, I believe the company took appropriate actions to notify customers of the breach. Target informed me by email and sent a letter reassuring my information was not compromised. As a valued Target cardholder, I was given the opportunity to apply for the free credit-monitoring program, which I took full advantage of. As an additional measure, Target provided customers with a new online safety feature to monitor suspicious activity by allowing customers to set alerts through email or text when purchases exceeded a specified amount. Consequently, Target is tightening security and making every effort to gain back trust to retain

    Read More

  • Target Security Breach

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    The security breach involved most of the Target stores in the U.S. Along with the card numbers, debit card pins, buyer’s names, and personal information were stolen as well. Some customers filed a lawsuit against Target for “failing to protect customer data.” (Demarche, 2013. p.1). Later, Target CEO Steinhafel stated, “I know that it is frustrating for our guests to learn that this information was taken, and we are truly sorry they are having to endure this.” After Steinhafel issued his apology he doubled the amount of employees to take phone calls from customers, as well as give a ten percent discount to those who shopped on the 28th and 29th of December.

    Read More

  • Target Pregnancy Predictor

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    Target’s collection and possible sale of private information could go against basic principles of confidentiality since people trust that they are not revealing information that is confidential. One expects that their personal information is protected and not just provided to anyone who is willing to pay for it. At the same time, people expect Target not to be buying influence ...

    Read More

  • Target Supply Chain Analysis

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    From the beginning Target stores supply chain has been based on the personal principles of the owner/founder Mr. Dayton. These principles include being known as the store chain that not only offers its customer’s dependable merchandise but the store chain that offers fair business practices and a generous spirit of giving (Target Corporation, 2014).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Target

    1885 Words  | 4 Pages

    Customers are appealed by Target’s consistent value of their products and customers. “With 1,793 stores in the U.S.”, Target assures that their layout, merchandise, visual merchandising, and service all contribute

    Read More

  • Target Corporation Competitive Analysis Essay

    1800 Words  | 4 Pages

    Target Corporation is the biggest discount retailing business in the US which comes just after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The headquarters are located in Minneapolis in Minnesota in the USA. George Dayton founded it. It initially started as a family business with a regional retailer shop and later grew into a national full retailer store. The company’s main aim is to offer retail services at friendly rates and, its main attracting feature is discount rates offed on different products in the business. The company has indicated tremendous growth in the retail business. It has a target to outgrow its market and achieve competitive advantage over its competitors. This essay seeks to discuss the competitive analysis and

    Read More

  • Walmart Financial Analysis

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    Target bank is called the Target National Bank. It is owned by the Target Corporations itself and all the receivables go into Target has approximately 1,600 million dollars worth of lines of credits from twenty five different banks, approximately half the worth of the line is used and is due back for payment June 2005, with an extension all the way up to June 2006. The other half of the payment is due June 2008. The expected long term rate of securities rate for October 31 2004 was 8.5 %.

    Read More

  • History of The Target Corporation

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Target is one of the America’s top retailers, but still has a few things that can be improved upon before it can overtake its top competitor. Although Target may not be the top ranked retailer at the moment, it’s not hard to see why this company has stood the tests of time and continues to thrive today.

    Read More

  • Target's Management Information Systems (MIS)

    1823 Words  | 4 Pages

    The system Target uses for its website has been very helpful in putting them at an elite spot in resolving customer issues. For example, its MIS system has a way of collecting a customer’s actions on their site as they shop. That way when they run into a problem and call for support, the call center representative will most likely already know and have information readily available to help the customer and resolve their issue (Vijayan). Target began using that system in 2001 as its new CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. This system is proof of the efficiency MIS brings to the table for large corporations like Target.

    Read More

  • The Home Depot Data Breach Case Study

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    5. The thing that you will need to implement is the disabling of all unnecessary ports and services on the POS devices.

    Read More

  • Swot Analysis Target: SWOT Analysis Of Target

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Compared to its rivals Target has not diversified in the retail industry, which makes the company vulnerable to changing shopping patterns and economic downturns.

    Read More

  • Target Corporation Swot Analysis

    1685 Words  | 4 Pages

    Opportunities: Target has an opportunity to leverage its strength to overcome some of its weakness.

    Read More

  • The Extinction of Privacy

    1175 Words  | 3 Pages

    Your identity is unsafe in more places than you may realize. Every store you walk in has the possibility or either having someone behind the counter, or someone hacking into a business from outside, readily waiting to steal your identity. Using your credit card in any store is never safe no matter what signs are posted around the store, or how big the company is; it’s not always the people who work there that want your identity. The article Identity theft growing, costly to victims in The Arizona Republic, J. Craig Anderson ...

    Read More

  • Marketing Strategy: Target's Competitive Strategy

    1558 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to Schafer (2013), Target Corporation desire is to improve Target Brand and be a better version of Target with an incremental products and services. Target Corporation acquisitions counter any threat from other rival online retailers and allow Target Corporation to cross promote between Target and the new entity strengthening its

    Read More

More about Target: The Largest Data Breach/Attack

Open Document