Tool retailer hit up by credit swipe bandits

Harbor Freight Tools' payment processing system was infiltrated by criminals, who stole credit and debit card data during a seven-week period, between May and June 2013.  

It is believed the intruders obtained "track 2" data—information on the card's magnetic stripe that contains the account number, expiration date, and verification number. For less than 1 percent of the transactions, the attackers might also have found the cardholder's name.  

The company could not determine which of its customers’ cards and information were affected.

The tool seller is trying to notify customers whose cards were used during the time frame at each impacted store. But, for most of those purchases, the company does not have enough information to discern the name or address of the customer.

“For those customers that we have addresses for, we began mailing letters to them on October 31. If you used your card in one of our stores during the seven week period and did not receive a letter, you should review the additional information on ways to protect yourself at www.harborfreight.com/protectingcustomers,” company officials said in a statement.   

ThreatWatch is a regularly updated catalog of data breaches successfully striking every sector of the globe, as reported by journalists, researchers and the victims themselves.