The TK Maxxdiscount clothes chain
has warned its customers that their credit card details may have
been compromised after a network breach at the company's US
headquarters.
The TJX group of companies warned of the breach yesterday, and
said it involved systems that process and store information related
to customer transactions.
While TJX has specifically identified some customer information
that has been stolen from its systems, the full extent of the theft
and affected customers is not yet known.
The intrusion involves the part of TJX’s computer network that
handles credit card, debit card, cheque and merchandise return
transactions for customers of the TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and
AJ Wright stores in the US and Puerto Rico, and its Winners and
HomeSense stores in Canada.
The company said the breach might also affect customers of TK
Maxx stores in the UK and Ireland.
The intrusion could also extend to TJX’s Bob’s Stores in the US.
The company said it had immediately alerted law enforcement
authorities after it discovered the breach in mid-December, but the
firm has only now gone public over the hack.
Ben Cammarata, acting CEO of the TJX companies, said, "Our first
concern is the potential impact of this crime on our customers, and
we strongly recommend that they carefully review their credit card
and debit card statements and other account information for
unauthorised use."
The company has hired General Dynamics and IBM to lead its
computer security and incident response strategy in response to the
hack. The two firms have since implemented security upgrades at the
company.
Customers in the UK and Ireland can freephone 0800 779015 to
seek advice in dealing with the breach.
More information:
Boeing data breach exposes 382,000
Security pros glean insights from 2006
Comment on this article:
computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk