Leaked Credit Cards: A History of Cybercrime

Credit card leaks have been a persistent threat in the digital world, with the first reported incident dating back to 1983, when a group of hackers stole credit card information from a California-based bank.

The 1990s saw a significant rise in credit card hacking, with the infamous "Shadow Brokers" group being one of the earliest known cybercrime organizations to target credit card data.

In 2005, a massive credit card leak occurred, with over 40 million credit card numbers compromised in a data breach at CardSystems Solutions, a payment processing company.

In 2006, TJX Companies, the parent company of TJMaxx and Marshall's, suffered a massive cyber-attack that compromised 94 million credit cards.

The stolen data included both Visa and MasterCard credit cards, with estimated fraud-related losses for Visa alone ranging from $68 million to $83 million across 13 countries.

TJX ended up paying $41 million to Visa and $24 million to MasterCard, in addition to a $9.75 million settlement to 41 states for consumer protection.

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The 2019 Capital One data breach is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our personal information online. In July 2019, Capital One, the fifth-largest credit card issuer in the United States, revealed that a hacker accessed the personal information of around 106 million customers and applicants in the U.S. and Canada.

The information that was accessed included highly personal details on consumers and small businesses. This included names, social security numbers, income, and dates of birth.

The breach affected customers who applied for credit card products from 2005 through early 2019. This means that anyone who applied for a credit card during this time period may have been affected.

The severity of the breach is a wake-up call for all of us to be more vigilant about our online security. We should be cautious about sharing personal information online and make sure to use strong passwords to protect our accounts.

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In 2014, The Home Depot suffered a massive data breach that exposed 56 million credit cards. The attack was carried out through a custom-built malware.

The malware was unique and specifically designed to target Home Depot's systems. Fortune magazine reported that the company ended up paying $25 million to banks.

This breach was particularly costly for Home Depot, with the company also paying $134.5 million to card companies like Visa and MasterCard. They also paid $19.5 million to affected customers.

The total cost of the breach for Home Depot was substantial, with the company spending a significant amount to rectify the situation.

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In 2009, a massive data breach occurred at Heartland Systems, affecting a staggering 160 million cards.

The breach was carried out by a lone hacker who was later caught and jailed.

The indictment in 2013 revealed that the hacker and four others had targeted numerous retailers, financial institutions, and payment processing firms.

Companies affected by the breach included Nasdaq, 7-Eleven, Carrefour, JC Penney, Hannaford, Wet Seal, Commidea, Dexia, JetBlue, Dow Jones, Euronet, Visa Jordan, Global Payment, Diners Singapore, and Ingenicard.

In 1984, a major data breach occurred at TRW, a leading credit union, which was discovered after a password was stolen from a Sears store on the West Coast.

The password, which was obtained from the Sears store, unlocked the credit histories and personal information of TRW's customers.

Blippy, a social networking site that allowed users to share their purchases and other activities, leaked the purchase history of over 1.5 million users.

The leak revealed that users had spent a total of over $1 billion on purchases, with the average user spending around $666.

Slim CD's breach affects 1.7 million credit cards, but that's a relatively small percentage of the 500 million credit cards in the United States alone.

It's worth noting that Slim CD has already begun notifying potentially affected individuals through email, although it's not always possible to know if your credit card data has been exposed unless a company notifies you directly.

Slim CD found no evidence that the breached information has been used for identity theft or fraud, but that doesn't mean you're in the clear. Criminals may try to use the compromised card right away or sell the information to someone who holds onto it long enough to establish a false sense of security for the credit card holder.

The leaked credit card information details have been correlated with the respective banks, their location (country), and their types. This analysis reveals some startling facts about the scope of the breach.

The top 500 potential affected banks are listed in descending order, with India being the country with the most leaked cards at 200,359. Mexico follows closely with 91,278 leaked cards.

The affected countries by count are diverse, but India, Mexico, and the United States have the highest numbers. In fact, the United States has 83,433 leaked cards, making it the third country on the list.

Here's a breakdown of the top 10 countries with the most leaked cards:

The distribution by card type is also available, but it's worth noting that there might be a slight variation due to some categories being unavailable in their system.

The fallout from the hack is a serious matter. Slim CD, the company behind the breach, supports a wide range of payment processors, including Elavon, Worldpay, and FirstData.

1.7 million compromised credit cards may seem like a lot, but it's worth noting that there are roughly 500 million credit cards in the United States alone. This means the breach only affected a small percentage of the total number of credit cards in circulation.

Slim CD has been sending emails to potentially affected individuals to ensure they receive accurate and complete notice. This is a good practice, as it allows consumers to take action to protect themselves.

There is no evidence that the breached information has been used for identity theft or fraud, according to Slim CD. However, this doesn't mean consumers should let their guard down.

Slim CD's spokesperson, Pitt, advises that those with compromised credit card information should cancel the affected card. This is a simple but effective step to take.

Pitt also recommends changing any passwords associated with the compromised account. This will help prevent unauthorized access to other accounts that may be linked to the compromised credit card.

Monitoring credit card statements and credit reports is also a good idea. This will help consumers catch any suspicious activity early on.

Placing a fraud alert on credit cards and credit profiles can provide an extra layer of protection. This can help prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in the victim's name.

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Slim CD's breach is a sobering reminder that even with robust security measures in place, cybercrime can still occur.

The company supports a wide range of payment processors, including Elavon, Worldpay, and FirstData, which is a common practice among many businesses.

1.7 million compromised credit cards is a significant number, but it's worth noting that there are roughly 500 million credit cards in the United States alone.

The company has found no evidence that the breached information has been used for identity theft or fraud, which is a positive development.

However, it's essential to take proactive steps to protect yourself, even if you're not directly affected by the breach.

Slim CD has been sending emails to potentially affected individuals to ensure they receive accurate and complete notice.

Unless a company notifies consumers directly, there's no way to know if their credit card data has been exposed, making proactive measures crucial.

Those with their credit card information exposed should cancel the affected card to minimize potential damage.

Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit cards and credit profiles to add an extra layer of protection.