Secret Service Mole Charged in Largest ID Theft Scheme Ever
August 19, 2009 – 12:18 pm
One hundred and thirty million. The number itself just boggles the mind. Try to think of 130,000,000 of anything and you’ll get a headache. Now think of that number in regards to debit card information. That’s right, 130 million account records — that’s the number that Albert Gonzalez stole… this time.
The previous record for most accounts stolen was forty million. The person that stole them? Albert Gonzalez — relation. This 28 year old hacker is responsible for stealing the information of over 170 million accounts. When numbers get that big they lose all meaning, so allow me to put it in perspective for you. If each record reflected a person in the United States, he stole over half of the population (56% to be exact).
How?
Aside from being a brilliant hacker and Secret Service informant (and double agent as it turns out), Gonzalez targeted retail and restaurant networks and obtained their transaction lists. Here are just a few of the places he stole from: 7-Eleven, T.J. Maxx, Dave & Busters, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority and OfficeMax. Gonzalez would hack into the store’s network and plant malware called “sniffers” that would seek out and record credit card data when it was transmitted from the stores to the processing centers.
So are the stores to blame?
Admittedly most of the networks that were infiltrated had outdated anti-virus and security programs. However there will always be individuals out there who can break into even the most updated and complete databases. Every time you use your credit or debit cards you’re at risk. Make sure there’s someone that can help protect you from this type of fraud if you ever purchase from a hacked store’s network.
Tags: albert gonzalez, credit fraud, debit, ID theft, largest id theft ever, scheme, secret service
One Response to “Secret Service Mole Charged in Largest ID Theft Scheme Ever”
When you think of how often you use your credit cards out there, not even really thinking about it… how hard is it for someone, an unassuming waiter or waitress or store clerk, perhaps to steal your number as they smile back at you. Truth is there’s no way to completely prevent it other than not using it and that’s not really a realistic option. That’s why I like having my Lifelock subscription. So the scumbags who perpetrate identity fraud will have a much tougher time ruining my life.
By LL coupon on Aug 22, 2009