Computer Systems Intrusion
On January 17, 2007, TJX announced that it was the victim of an unauthorized computer systems intrusion. It discovered in mid-December 2006 that its computer systems were compromised and customer data was stolen. The hackers accessed a system that stores data on credit card, debit card, check, and merchandise return transactions. The intrusion was kept confidential as requested by law enforcement. TJX said that it is working with General Dynamics, IBM and Deloitte to upgrade computer security.
By the end of March 2007, the number of affected customers had reached 45.7 million and has prompted credit bureaus to seek legislation requiring retailers to be responsible for compromised customer information saved in their systems. In addition to credit card numbers, personal information such as social security numbers and driver's license numbers from 451,000 customers were downloaded by the intruders. The breach was possible due to a non-secure wireless network in one of the stores.
Eleven men have been charged in the theft, and one (Damon Patrick Toey) has pleaded guilty to numerous charges related to the breach. One man, Jonathan James, professed his innocence and later committed suicide, apparently out of the belief that he was going to be indicted.
The alleged ringleader Albert Gonzalez was indicted in August 2009 with attacking Heartland Payment Systems in which 130 million records were compromised.
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