US:BOSTON - Eleven people face charges over the hacking of nine major US retailers and the theft and sale of more than 41 million credit and debit card numbers.
It is believed to be the largest hacking and identity theft case prosecuted by the US Department of Justice. The charges include conspiracy, computer intrusion, fraud and identity theft.
The indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston says the suspects hacked into the wireless computer networks of retailers including TJX Co, BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW.
"While technology has made our lives much easier it has also created new vulnerabilities," US attorney Michael Sullivan said. "This case clearly shows how strokes on a keyboard with a criminal purpose can have costly results." The indictment says the hackers installed programs to capture card numbers, passwords and account information, then concealed the data in computer servers that they controlled in the US and Eastern Europe. - ( AP)