Target: I am no longer a customer!

[Paper Roses]

After spending a great part of the day on the phone with my credit card company to check status, I have decided that I will no longer shop at Target. I will also return to paying any purchases I make--anywhere-- by check. This cyber theft has left me with such a bad feeling that I feel I must revert back to my old way of paying by check. Today I got the credit card company e-mail and one from Target.

My bank tells me that I am not at risk because there are no purchases via debit card on the most vulnerable dates. After that conversation I heard that the vulnerability dates back several years. What to do?

I am not a big shopper. I have limited resources. I cannot afford this kind of sloppy security, especially from a store that is one of the largest in the country.
Phooey!

I have the Target e-mail and will subscribe to the offer of credit monitoring(tomorrow).
I feel there is no excuse for this breach and my only recourse is to pay by check. If I use my debit card, it will be at my bank only. I don't know how to cope otherwise.

[PeaceNikki]

1. This could happen anywhere and will probably happen elsewhere.

I totally understand how you feel.

I did not shop during the vulnerable dates, but my data was compromised as well. There were 2 sets of breaches. One was about 40 million credit/debit cards during the time frame stated.

Second was about 70 million customer's personal info - name, address, phone, email or some combo - no time frame - if you've ever shopped Target, registered with them online, etc - you are at risk for this. I got that email, too .

more info: http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/16/news/companies/target-breach-report/

Hackers obtained credit card data for 40 million in-store customers, as well as personal information -- including names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses -- for 70 million customers. Hackers also obtained encrypted PIN numbers for debit cards, the company said.

Credit card data for 40 million plus personal info on 70 million more (although there's likely crossover between the two with some folks on both lists).

You (and I) were one of the 70 million.

I am not sure what the answer is, but this was big enough that I think we'll see some real change rather quickly. I am keeping an eye on it from a personal and professional level.

[FSogol]

2. The thieves stole info on 70 million accounts. What are the odds of it affecting you personally?

Also, the breach affected a lot more than just Target. No idea why only Target is mentioned in all the news reports.

Did the credit card company tell you you wouldn't be responsible for any fraudulent charges? It is true. There are a lot of better things to worry about.

[tridim]

3. Why do you assume your data is safe in a bank?

Your bank likely uses the same hardware and software as Target does.

[Logical]

4. Shit happens. Abobe had same issue! nt

[Phentex]

5. Not much to tell you...

because nothing is perfectly safe. I have a debit card that I don't keep very much money on. I use it for small purchases and occasionally paypal. If someone were to get that info, they wouldn't get much money at all.

I have another credit card that has charge alerts so I get an email when the card is used for online or phone charges which are the ones most likely to be fraudulent because I keep my card with me in my wallet.

I track my accounts regularly to see the activity but I'm not checking every single day.

Nobody is safe.

[appleannie1]

6. I still use cash or check and will do so as long as possible. I have a credit card but only use

it for emergencies. I also have a debit card but only use it to retrieve money from my bank account if I have to.

[mercuryblues]

7. there is

this green stuff out there with pictures of dead presidents on them. Cashiers accept that just like they do credit cards.

[Paper Roses]

8. The green stuff is just what I plan to use. Phooey on this electronic stuff. n/t

[Lex]

9. It's not just Target. All stores are vulnerable in the same way.

Target was just the one they decided to hit this time and as I understand it, Target had no worse security than any other retailer. They were just the store hit this time.

[herding cats]

10. Unless you shopped at Target between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 your credit info is safe.

The other breach was on a database which held client information such as names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Not your credit card information. I know this because I was in the second breach and called Target to find out what exactly was going on when they sent me an email.

I'm sorry you had a hard time with with this, your bank should have been able to tell you this without you're having to be on the phone for so long. The banks with accounts that were breached were notified by Target directly.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

11. Checking account numbers can also be stolen. Sorry to say. n/t

[Squinch]

12. I am sure there are those who think we are overreacting, but I agree with you.

I'm going back to cash and an occasional AMEX charge.

This is getting to be too much. Your financial information is always in danger, your GPS is being tracked, your smart phone is being tracked, and on and on and on.

And 85 people own half the world, and someone has access to all that information about all of us, and it's only a matter of time till it's used against us en masse.

This is a system I'm going to bow out of as much as I can.

[Glassunion]

13. How was their security sloppy?

I have yet to see a detail of how the hackers got in.

[polichick]

14. I'm using cash for purchases again - feels weird to walk around with cash.

[Drew Richards]

15. For those of you saying you are going back to cash only...all I can say is I wish you good luck

Its getting harder and harder to pay some things in cash and your credit scored is tied to your credit card record. At least partially.

[NutmegYankee]

16. Be Warned - many businesses now deposit your check electronically.

So that can be intercepted or hacked. And then they will have a routing number and your bank account number.