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TJX Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

TJX Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 20, 2024

In January 2007, the TJX Companies, Inc. discovered a data breach that had been ongoing for some time. Cybercriminals targeted the retail giant and managed to steal information from a number of customers. The breach exposed vulnerabilities in the company's networks and raised questions about the security practices of retailers. The incident had a financial impact on TJX and highlighted the need for better regulations to protect consumer data.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 94 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and personal information such as names, addresses, and driver's license numbers.

How was TJX hacked?

Cybercriminals exploited vulnerabilities in TJX's wireless networks at two Marshalls stores, installing a sniffer program to capture sensitive data as it was transmitted. They also exfiltrated 80 gigabytes of stored data from a TJX server, transferring it to another location using the company's own high-speed connection.

TJX's solution

In response to the hack, TJX took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. This included appointing a cybersecurity officer, identifying specific administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, and certifying their new cybersecurity program was operating efficiently each year for the next twenty years, as ordered by the Federal Trade Commission. TJX also collaborated with outside firms to investigate the data breach and determine the extent of the threat actors' presence in their IT systems. However, information on the removal of malware and backdoors, notification to affected customers, and encouragement to change passwords remains unclear.

How do I know if I was affected?

TJX has not explicitly mentioned reaching out to affected customers. If you believe you may have been affected by the TJX data breach and haven't received a notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity, and report any unauthorized transactions to the appropriate financial institutions immediately.

For more specific help and instructions related to the TJX data breach, please contact TJX's support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the TJX data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

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TJX Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

TJX Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 20, 2024

In January 2007, the TJX Companies, Inc. discovered a data breach that had been ongoing for some time. Cybercriminals targeted the retail giant and managed to steal information from a number of customers. The breach exposed vulnerabilities in the company's networks and raised questions about the security practices of retailers. The incident had a financial impact on TJX and highlighted the need for better regulations to protect consumer data.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 94 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and personal information such as names, addresses, and driver's license numbers.

How was TJX hacked?

Cybercriminals exploited vulnerabilities in TJX's wireless networks at two Marshalls stores, installing a sniffer program to capture sensitive data as it was transmitted. They also exfiltrated 80 gigabytes of stored data from a TJX server, transferring it to another location using the company's own high-speed connection.

TJX's solution

In response to the hack, TJX took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. This included appointing a cybersecurity officer, identifying specific administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, and certifying their new cybersecurity program was operating efficiently each year for the next twenty years, as ordered by the Federal Trade Commission. TJX also collaborated with outside firms to investigate the data breach and determine the extent of the threat actors' presence in their IT systems. However, information on the removal of malware and backdoors, notification to affected customers, and encouragement to change passwords remains unclear.

How do I know if I was affected?

TJX has not explicitly mentioned reaching out to affected customers. If you believe you may have been affected by the TJX data breach and haven't received a notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity, and report any unauthorized transactions to the appropriate financial institutions immediately.

For more specific help and instructions related to the TJX data breach, please contact TJX's support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the TJX data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

TJX Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 20, 2024

In January 2007, the TJX Companies, Inc. discovered a data breach that had been ongoing for some time. Cybercriminals targeted the retail giant and managed to steal information from a number of customers. The breach exposed vulnerabilities in the company's networks and raised questions about the security practices of retailers. The incident had a financial impact on TJX and highlighted the need for better regulations to protect consumer data.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 94 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and personal information such as names, addresses, and driver's license numbers.

How was TJX hacked?

Cybercriminals exploited vulnerabilities in TJX's wireless networks at two Marshalls stores, installing a sniffer program to capture sensitive data as it was transmitted. They also exfiltrated 80 gigabytes of stored data from a TJX server, transferring it to another location using the company's own high-speed connection.

TJX's solution

In response to the hack, TJX took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. This included appointing a cybersecurity officer, identifying specific administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, and certifying their new cybersecurity program was operating efficiently each year for the next twenty years, as ordered by the Federal Trade Commission. TJX also collaborated with outside firms to investigate the data breach and determine the extent of the threat actors' presence in their IT systems. However, information on the removal of malware and backdoors, notification to affected customers, and encouragement to change passwords remains unclear.

How do I know if I was affected?

TJX has not explicitly mentioned reaching out to affected customers. If you believe you may have been affected by the TJX data breach and haven't received a notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity, and report any unauthorized transactions to the appropriate financial institutions immediately.

For more specific help and instructions related to the TJX data breach, please contact TJX's support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the TJX data breach, check out the following news articles: