Geeks.com not so 'Hacker Safe'
Summary: Geeks.com, a computer gear e-tailer that sports ScanAlert's "Hacker Safe" logo, has been hacked.
Geeks.com, a computer gear e-tailer that sports ScanAlert's "Hacker Safe" logo, has been hacked.
The Consumerist posted a letter from Geeks.com parent Genica to customers. The letter reads:
The purpose of this letter is to notify you that Genica dba Geeks.com ("Genica") recently discovered on December 5, 2007 that customer information, including Visa credit card information, may have been compromised. In particular, it is possible that an unauthorized person may be in possession of your name, address, telephone number, email address, credit card number, expiration date, and card verification number. We are still investigating the details of this incident, but it appears that an unauthorized individual may have accessed this information by hacking our eCommerce website.
If you've been a Geeks.com customer in the last year you may want to monitor your credit report.
The Hacker Safe logo comes from ScanAlert, a McAfee unit. McAfee bought the ScanAlert in October to add another revenue stream to its business. Analysts reckon that McAfee can weather an economic downturn better with ScanAlert in the fold. Under the ScanAlert business model, site operators pay for a site audit and due diligence so they can post the Hacker Safe badge.
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Why?
Because . . .
Not saying that's a bright move on the part of any customer who selects that option, or on Geeks.com's for even having that option there. Just saying, that's why they had credit card data stored.
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RE: Geeks.com not so 'Hacker Safe'
RE: Geeks.com not so 'Hacker Safe'
The allegation that Geeks.com was hacked while it was certified HACKER SAFE is false and misleading, and does not match the facts provided by Geeks.com to its customers. So far, no one knows exactly what happened, or whether this breach occurred on the web site or somewhere else. There is no evidence that this web site was hacked while it was certified HACKER SAFE. In fact, all of the information that ScanAlert has gathered so far indicates that this breach did not happen while Geeks.com was certified HACKER SAFE.
ScanAlert's Reply
The allegation that Geeks.com was hacked while it was certified HACKER SAFE is false and misleading, and does not match the facts provided by Geeks.com to its customers. So far, no one knows exactly what happened, or whether this breach occurred on the web site or somewhere else. There is no evidence that this web site was hacked while it was certified HACKER SAFE. In fact, all of the information that ScanAlert has gathered so far indicates that this breach did not happen while Geeks.com was certified HACKER SAFE.
RE: Geeks.com not so 'Hacker Safe'
Many are criminals, but many are also high school and college kids, probably computer majors, and knowledgable of many or the methods used. The youth factor has a lot more energy to devote to hacking, and may take it as a personal challenge. Geeks.com, just by it's name will attract a younger crowd making it a target. The fact that credit card info was stored on that server and not on a separate, super secure, single function customer server.