{"id":1394,"date":"2014-01-13T23:07:01","date_gmt":"2014-01-14T04:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/?p=1394"},"modified":"2014-07-31T13:55:57","modified_gmt":"2014-07-31T17:55:57","slug":"why-is-target-getting-hacked-such-a-big-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1394","title":{"rendered":"Why is Target getting hacked such a big deal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LOS<\/p>\n

Dog nag-it; Hackers got my credit card info….again! \u00a0With all the talk of Target and a few other retailers who have been victims of recent hack attacks, I thought it might be a good idea to revisit a few items, including why we, as\u00a0consumers should care,\u00a0<\/span>credit card usage, and finally what can be done to safeguard our identities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once a hacker has your information, they can use that information to make credit cards, or they can steal your username and password to gain access to your email and other online sights. \u00a0With access to your other online sights, they may be able to dig up your Social Security Number (SSN), and that is the holy grail for the hackers. Once a hacker has your SSN, they can obtain credit cards and loans in your name. \u00a0Really making a mess of your life. \u00a0We all know that the credit reporting agencies are less than cooperative; so it really makes for a bad few days, weeks, months or possibly even years to clean this mess up.<\/p>\n

Now, I’m the last one that has any right to tell you how to spend your money. \u00a0By credit card usage, I’m referring to how you handle credit card purchases. \u00a0First I’d tell you to “Be careful out there.” \u00a0A friend of mine, who I chastise on a daily basis for the pure enjoyment doesn’t use his credit card on small purchases (say $50 bucks, but who really knows, I don’t). \u00a0I on the other hand tend, I never carry cash, so I use mine all the time. \u00a0Now that I’m thinking about it, he may have the right idea; and I’m sure we’ll talk more about this at work. Second, when a cashier asks for your zip code, say “no.” There is no requirement for you to reveal your zip code, unless it is required to complete the transaction (think gas stations). What value is in your zip code<\/a>? \u00a0Armed with your zip code and name from your credit card. \u00a0Retailers can use that information coupled with other information gathered from commercial databases to retrieve lots of information about you, including your mailing address. \u00a0Ever wondered how they got your address for that coupon mailer, or how they got your email address? \u00a0Retailers may sell your information to other marketers.<\/p>\n

So now that we know there really is a conspiracy theory, and the world is out to get us, how do we protect ourselves?<\/p>\n