All About the Heartland Payment Systems Scandal and If You Should Worry

April 7, 2022

Heartland Payment Systems, a massive payment processing corporation, had a huge data breach that is still causing a lot of worry for people, even to this day. If you’re not sure what it is or whether you should be worried or not, we’ve got all the details for you. Read on to find out all about the Heartland Payment Systems scandal. 

What Is the Heartland Payment Systems and What Kind of Scandal Are We Talking About?

Back in 2008, it was revealed that Heartland Payment Systems had been the victim of a massive data breach. Over 130 million credit and debit card numbers had been stolen, making it one of the most significant data breaches in history.

This breach put a lot of people at risk, as their personal information was stolen by the hackers. It also caused a lot of financial damage, as people had to cancel their cards and deal with the resulting mess.

The company went through the whole legal situation with New Jersey Federal Court and Heartland responded by increasing its security measures.

Why Should I Worry?

Even though it’s been a few years since the breach occurred, you still might be worried about it. After all, your personal information was stolen, and you may not know what’s happened with it since then.

While there’s a chance that your personal information has been used fraudulently, there’s also a good chance that it hasn’t.

The best thing you can do is be vigilant about your credit and debit card usage and keep an eye on your credit score. If you see any suspicious activity, be sure to report it immediately.

If you’re feeling uneasy about the internal security, then it’s probably best to take some precautions. But if you’re not too concerned, then there’s no need to worry. Just be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself if necessary.

How Was It Hacked?

Heartland Payment Systems is one of the leading credit card processors in the United States. They are responsible for processing payments for over 250,000 businesses, which include restaurants, retailers, and service providers. So when news broke in January of 2009 that the company had been hacked, it sent shockwaves through the business community.

The hack was executed in two stages. First, the attackers installed malware on Heartland’s computer systems that allowed them to steal credit card data as it was processed. Then, they used this data to create counterfeit credit cards and make unauthorized purchases. This attack affected over 130 million cards, making it one of the largest breaches in history.

Should Your Business Be Worried?

Well, that depends on what type of business you own. If you’re a small business owner who processes credit card payments through Heartland, then there’s a good chance that your data was compromised in the attack. And if that’s the case, then you’ll need to take steps to protect yourself from identity theft.

But if you’re a business owner who doesn’t process payments through Heartland, then you don’t need to worry. The attack was limited to the company’s computer systems, and it didn’t affect any other credit card processors.

In the end, the Heartland payment system scandal is a reminder that no business is safe from cyber attacks. So if you’re not already doing so, you need to take steps to protect your computer systems from malware and other online threats.

How Did the Company Respond to the Hack?

In the aftermath of the hack, Heartland took a number of steps to improve its security. They installed new malware detection software, increased their staff dedicated to data security, and launched a public awareness campaign to educate business owners about the dangers of cyberattacks.

They also reached a settlement with Mastercard, Visa, and several other credit card companies. As part of the settlement, Heartland paid and agreed to reimburse cardholders for any fraudulent charges that were made as a result of the hack. This included merchant account customers as well.

Can the Security Breach Info Be Used for Identity Theft?

Yes, the information that was stolen in the Heartland payment system hack can be used for identity theft.

So, if you’re a business owner who processed payments through the company, you need to be aware of this and take steps to protect yourself from identity theft.

What Can We Learn From Heartland Payment Systems?

Just like any breach whether it’s just hacking into emails or a major payment processing services breach, we can learn a lot from how the Heartland payment systems suffered.

Make sure that you have good security measures in place

This is something that Heartland should have been doing, but they fell short. And as a result, they suffered a major data breach. Always research your merchant account and merchant bill so you know your debit card transactions will be as secure as possible.

Read the merchant processing agreement thoroughly to understand not only monthly fees, processing fees, reporting fee, and federal regulatory hidden fees but make sure transparent billing practices are in place on your monthly statements.

Educate your employees about the dangers of cyber attacks

One of the reasons the hack was successful was because the attackers were able to install malware on Heartland’s computer systems. And this could have been prevented if the employees had been better educated about the dangers of cyberattacks.

It’s beneficial to ensure each employee goes through full compliance and safety training to detect unusual activity. They should be required to review procedures for mobile payments, payment card processors, payroll customers, and other vulnerable areas.

Have a contingency plan in place

In the event of a data breach, you need to have a plan in place for how you will respond. This includes notifying your customers, the media, credit card companies, and payment card processors.

Use a credit freeze to protect yourself from identity theft

If you’re concerned that your data may have been compromised in a data breach, you can use a credit freeze to prevent anyone from opening new accounts in your name.

What Are The Best Security Measures to Have in Place?

The best security measures will vary depending on your business’ needs. But some of the measures that you may want to consider include malware detection software, firewalls, data encryption, and employee training.

How to Develop a Contingency Plan For a Potential Data Breach?

If you’re a business owner, you need to have a contingency plan in place for a potential data breach. This includes notifying your customers, the media, and credit card companies. You can also use a credit freeze to protect yourself from identity theft.

What Is the Best Way to Monitor My Credit Report for Fraudulent Activity?

The best way to monitor your credit report will vary depending on your needs. However, some of the methods that you may want to consider include signing up for credit monitoring services and checking your credit report regularly.

What Is the Difference Between a Data Breach and a Cyber Attack?

A data breach is when confidential information is leaked or stolen, while a cyberattack is when someone tries to gain unauthorized access to your computer systems.

So, a data breach can happen as a result of a cyberattack, but not all cyber attacks result in data breaches.

What Is the Difference Between a Data Breach and Identity Theft?

A data breach is when confidential information is leaked or stolen, while identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

So a data breach can lead to identity theft, but not all cases of identity theft are the result of data breaches.

Has Heartland had Any Hacks Since Then?

So far, there have been no known hacks of Heartland since the original breach in 2008.

However, that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been targeted – in fact, they may be a prime target for hackers since they have such a large database of customers. The Heartland Payment Systems scandal may be only one of numerous attacks on the company, potentially putting millions of people at risk of identity theft and financial fraud. 

What Are Some Similar Hacks and Data Breaches?

Some of the most notable hacks and data breaches in recent years include the Target breach, the Ashley Madison hack, and the Yahoo breach.

What Happened to Heartland Payments?

After the data breach, Heartland Payments Systems was acquired by Global Payments in 2012. And in 2016, Global Payments merged with another payments company called Vantiv, which is now known as Worldpay.

So if you have any questions or concerns about your account, you would need to contact Worldpay.

Is The New Heartland Company Safe to Use Now?

Yes. It’s important to keep in mind that just because a company has had a data breach in the past doesn’t mean that it’s not safe to use them now.

However, you should always be careful when providing your personal information to any company, and you may want to consider using a credit freeze to protect yourself from identity theft.

Is a Company Responsible When They Get Hacked?

It depends on the circumstances.

Generally, a company is not responsible when it gets hacked unless it can be shown to have been negligent in its security measures.

However, if you believe that your personal information has been compromised as a result of a data breach, you may have grounds for a legal claim.

Are There Any Laws That Mandate How a Company Should Protect Their Data?

There are no federal laws that mandate how a company should protect its data. However, there are some state laws that require companies to notify their customers of a data breach.

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a new EU law that will go into effect in May of 2018 and will require companies to take steps to protect the personal data of their customers.

How to Alert Customers When Your Business Has a Breach

When your business experiences a data breach, you will need to contact your customers to let them know. You should also post a notification on your website and include instructions on how customers can protect themselves from identity theft.

As technology advances, so do the methods cybercriminals use to steal information. If you don’t tell your customers about the breach in your business, if it has anything to do with them, they may never know that they’re at risk. Informing them of the breach is not only the right thing to do but it’s also required by law in some states by law enforcement agencies.

Wrapping It Up

Many top companies are victims of hacks and data breaches. You should give consideration to whether to do business with a company because they had a breach.

Unless they aren’t taking security measures seriously, especially with their payment processing technology, you can move forward with them. Before you work with any company, just do your research. You can see how often they end up with a breach, and this will tell you if they take their security seriously.

Need help safeguarding your information and protecting yourself from this kind of hack? Click here to learn more about the reputation monitoring services at EraseMugshots here.

 

Free Mugshot Removal Analysis