Epsilon, a major Internet marketing concern, last week experienced a hack of its client's customer database. The data security breach at Epsilon put millions of customer names and addresses in the possession of cybercriminals. Several major charge card holders are receiving warnings from banks about the breach, which is likely to spawn a spate of spam in the form of phishing emails. Source for this article - Epsilon database hack exposes millions to phishing attacks by MoneyBlogNewz.

Names at Epsilon hacked

The Epsilon database hack can be the biggest in history of a hack while millions of names and emails were stolen. Friday, Epsilon declared that customer files were hacked meaning email addresses and other information at sites might have been stolen as Epsilon sends over 40 billion marketing emails for 2,500 companies yearly.

Many businesses were affected by this. There were at least a dozen involved. Phishing attacks might start hitting consumers at banks for instance Capital One, Barclays Bank, U.S. Bancorp, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase. Watch out if you have been at other companies as well. These will include Kroger, Walgreens, TiVo, Best Buy and HSN. Students should worry as about 5,900 colleges and universities were in the College Board database, the company that organizes the SAT. This information may also have been stolen.

How to spot a phishing con

Spam is more than likely the goal of all the emails and names stolen out of the Epsilon database. This data security breach could make "phishing" attacks more effective because cyber-criminals can target actual account holders with a bank or retailer. The login information is stolen giving hackers access with phishing emails trying to trick consumers into logging into a fake account. Once hackers have a person's name and email address, they might also find personal details on Facebook that can be used to make the email more convincing. You know it is a phishing scam if it asks for you to update credit card information. It also might say the account could be closed if information is not updated. As the account is compromised, phishing scams will ask for account information.

A new record for stealing data

Although Epsilon said the database hack was limited to consumer names and emails, the business hasn't yet made clear how several consumers or students have been exposed. Epsilon clients already mentioned weren’t the only ones at risk. AstraZeneca, Kraft Foods, Hilton Hotels and Verizon Communications might also be at risk. Several think that the Epsilon hack might officially be the biggest attack in U.S. history. Currently, the Heartland Payment Systems hack is the largest one recognized. A 20 year prison sentence was given to cyber-criminal Albert Gonzalez. He got to the Heartland Payment Systems and stole over 40 million card numbers to use for his own personal use.

Citations

Associated Press

finance.yahoo.com/news/Banks-creditcard-issuers-warn-apf-754015157.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

MSN Money

money.msn.com/identity-theft/news.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20110403&id=13261200

Computer world

computerworld.com/s/article/print/9215443/Update_Bank_customers_warned_after_breach_at_Epsilon_marketing_firm?taxonomyName=Security&taxonomyId=17

Microsoft

microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-symptoms.aspx