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Michaels Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Michaels Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

Michaels Stores, an arts and crafts retailer, had a data breach between May 2013 and February 2014. This incident impacted payment cards used at both Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores. The company addressed the issue and worked with the U.S. Secret Service. This event was part of a series of similar breaches at other large retailers, highlighting concerns about payment card security.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 3 million payment cards.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included payment card numbers and expiration dates.

How was Michael hacked?

Hackers targeted Michaels Stores and its subsidiary Aaron Brothers using point-of-system attacks to compromise payment card information. The company learned of the breach in January and hired security firms to investigate the incident. The malware responsible for the breach was contained and is no longer a threat, although the exact methods used by the hackers remain unclear.

Michael's solution

In response to the hacking incident, Michaels Stores took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. The company hired security firms to investigate the breach and contained the malware, ensuring it was no longer a threat. Michaels also worked closely with federal law enforcement and third-party data security experts during the investigation. Although specific enhanced security protocols were not detailed, the company offered identity protection, credit monitoring, and fraud assistance to affected customers.

How do I know if I was affected?

Michaels Stores did not explicitly mention reaching out to affected customers. However, if you believe you may have been affected by the breach and have not received any notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your email has been compromised in this or any other data breach.

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 your financial institution immediately.

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

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the Michaels 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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Michaels Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Michaels Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

Michaels Stores, an arts and crafts retailer, had a data breach between May 2013 and February 2014. This incident impacted payment cards used at both Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores. The company addressed the issue and worked with the U.S. Secret Service. This event was part of a series of similar breaches at other large retailers, highlighting concerns about payment card security.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 3 million payment cards.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included payment card numbers and expiration dates.

How was Michael hacked?

Hackers targeted Michaels Stores and its subsidiary Aaron Brothers using point-of-system attacks to compromise payment card information. The company learned of the breach in January and hired security firms to investigate the incident. The malware responsible for the breach was contained and is no longer a threat, although the exact methods used by the hackers remain unclear.

Michael's solution

In response to the hacking incident, Michaels Stores took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. The company hired security firms to investigate the breach and contained the malware, ensuring it was no longer a threat. Michaels also worked closely with federal law enforcement and third-party data security experts during the investigation. Although specific enhanced security protocols were not detailed, the company offered identity protection, credit monitoring, and fraud assistance to affected customers.

How do I know if I was affected?

Michaels Stores did not explicitly mention reaching out to affected customers. However, if you believe you may have been affected by the breach and have not received any notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your email has been compromised in this or any other data breach.

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 your financial institution immediately.

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

Where can I go to learn more?

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

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

Michaels Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

Michaels Stores, an arts and crafts retailer, had a data breach between May 2013 and February 2014. This incident impacted payment cards used at both Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores. The company addressed the issue and worked with the U.S. Secret Service. This event was part of a series of similar breaches at other large retailers, highlighting concerns about payment card security.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 3 million payment cards.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included payment card numbers and expiration dates.

How was Michael hacked?

Hackers targeted Michaels Stores and its subsidiary Aaron Brothers using point-of-system attacks to compromise payment card information. The company learned of the breach in January and hired security firms to investigate the incident. The malware responsible for the breach was contained and is no longer a threat, although the exact methods used by the hackers remain unclear.

Michael's solution

In response to the hacking incident, Michaels Stores took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. The company hired security firms to investigate the breach and contained the malware, ensuring it was no longer a threat. Michaels also worked closely with federal law enforcement and third-party data security experts during the investigation. Although specific enhanced security protocols were not detailed, the company offered identity protection, credit monitoring, and fraud assistance to affected customers.

How do I know if I was affected?

Michaels Stores did not explicitly mention reaching out to affected customers. However, if you believe you may have been affected by the breach and have not received any notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your email has been compromised in this or any other data breach.

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 your financial institution immediately.

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

Where can I go to learn more?

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