Target Breach: 110 Million Customers

110 Million Target customers affected

The credit card breach in December at Target was more widespread than we thought. At first, we were told that payment card data (credit and debit card data, customer names and PIN #s) of some 40 million customers had been stolen by hackers during the year-end holiday shopping season. That's bad. The reality is worse. Hackers also stole a second batch of data that included names, mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses for up to 70 million people.

Target chief executive Gregg Steinhafel said the company was "truly sorry" for the data breach and that consumers would have "zero liability" due to any fraudulent charges arising from the theft. Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring protection.

General Tom doesn't shop at Target.  He also does not use credit/debit cards.  If someone wants to steal money from me, they'll have to do it the old fashioned way, with a gun.  That's the difference between an honest thief and a dishonest one.