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Equifax Breach Update: 200K Credit Cards Stolen

Posted: September 14, 2017 to News.

Tags: Data Breach, Malware, Compliance

As if having the sensitive, personal information stolen from half of America wasn't bad enough, and the way Equifax handled it, there's more. Credit card companies have been telling banks and financial institutions that about 200,000 credit cards were also stolen in the process. Credit card companies often report information about fraudulent activity to the companies that issue the card, which helps discover the source of the theft. They usually don't name an exact source, but in this case both Visa and MasterCard say they definitely came from the Equifax breach while both separately naming the same date range of the theft. The stolen information includes the credit card number, the expiration, and the name on the card. This is enough information for thieves to shop online. Unlike with most such hacks, the information wasn't stolen gradually through malware. Instead, it was all downloaded in one giant batch back in May. In related news, the hack was made possible by a vulnerability in an open-source Apache software package. Tragically, the zero-day flaw was first noticed on March 7. It was already being exploited in the wild, but Apache released a patch the next day. That means if Equifax had been patching their software as soon as the patch became available, all of this mess would very likely have been avoided.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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