Dachsie
25th August 2014, 04:52 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/22/us-retailers-hacking_n_5701897.html
U.S. Retailers Warned Of Possible Hacking
AP | By ALICIA A. CALDWELL and JEFF HORWITZ
Posted: 08/22/2014 8:19 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 1,000 U.S. retailers could be infected with malicious software lurking in their cash register computers, allowing hackers to steal customer financial data, the Homeland Security Department said Friday.
The government urged businesses of all sizes to scan their point-of-sale systems for software known as "Backoff," discovered last October. It previously explained in detail how the software operates and how retailers could find and remove it. SNIP
Target is now accelerating its $100 million plan to roll out chip-based credit card technology in all of its nearly 1,800 stores.
So-called chip and pin technology would allow for more secure transactions than the magnetic strip cards that most Americans use now. The technology has already been adopted in Europe and elsewhere. SNIP
We have to ask what the manipulation is here. Stores like Target and Staples and other big box stores that have their own credit cards are being "forced" into adopting microchipped cards. It is my understanding that a chipped card would do a whole lot more than simply "would allow for more secure transactions" as the article misleadingly states. The chipped cards could trace you to every item you purchase and maybe even could trace your movements. A much stronger info profile on you could be built I think from a chipped card.
People may give up having big-store credit cards altogether and this would move all purchases to major bank credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, so that is another possible manipulation going on here -- consolidating all consumer credit with like five big bankster banks. If consumers drop store credit cards, then all the big bucks the big stores made from their high interest charges will cut deeply into their profits and Target and Sears and other big stores are already in very deep trouble profit wise, so this could push these big stores out of business -- another possible goal?
Lastly, the old problem reaction solution game obvious here.
Problem: Malware called Backoff (real problem or created/inflicted problem by the government)
Reaction: Stores spend money they can't afford now for new chipped card systems.
Solution: Everybody move toward a few big-bank credit cards that are microchipped to the max. People will only have one credit card and their line of credit will be heavily and more easily controlled and a person's ability to buy and sell will become exponentially more limited.
U.S. Retailers Warned Of Possible Hacking
AP | By ALICIA A. CALDWELL and JEFF HORWITZ
Posted: 08/22/2014 8:19 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 1,000 U.S. retailers could be infected with malicious software lurking in their cash register computers, allowing hackers to steal customer financial data, the Homeland Security Department said Friday.
The government urged businesses of all sizes to scan their point-of-sale systems for software known as "Backoff," discovered last October. It previously explained in detail how the software operates and how retailers could find and remove it. SNIP
Target is now accelerating its $100 million plan to roll out chip-based credit card technology in all of its nearly 1,800 stores.
So-called chip and pin technology would allow for more secure transactions than the magnetic strip cards that most Americans use now. The technology has already been adopted in Europe and elsewhere. SNIP
We have to ask what the manipulation is here. Stores like Target and Staples and other big box stores that have their own credit cards are being "forced" into adopting microchipped cards. It is my understanding that a chipped card would do a whole lot more than simply "would allow for more secure transactions" as the article misleadingly states. The chipped cards could trace you to every item you purchase and maybe even could trace your movements. A much stronger info profile on you could be built I think from a chipped card.
People may give up having big-store credit cards altogether and this would move all purchases to major bank credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, so that is another possible manipulation going on here -- consolidating all consumer credit with like five big bankster banks. If consumers drop store credit cards, then all the big bucks the big stores made from their high interest charges will cut deeply into their profits and Target and Sears and other big stores are already in very deep trouble profit wise, so this could push these big stores out of business -- another possible goal?
Lastly, the old problem reaction solution game obvious here.
Problem: Malware called Backoff (real problem or created/inflicted problem by the government)
Reaction: Stores spend money they can't afford now for new chipped card systems.
Solution: Everybody move toward a few big-bank credit cards that are microchipped to the max. People will only have one credit card and their line of credit will be heavily and more easily controlled and a person's ability to buy and sell will become exponentially more limited.