The Target breech malware was from a 16 year old.

Isabel

Holy cow. It is unbelievable. The person who wrote the virus is a 16 year old from Russia. Apparently , he writes malware and sells it. I can barely use this site. Apparently, 70 million Target customers' emails and other personal info were taken.

12 years ago

Off Topic

11 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

minimalist

Veteran

What's unbelievable? That customers mindlessly hand over cards to retailers using insecure payment systems? Or that Target took so long to report the breach? Or that news consumers are buying the lone hacker story?

I'm bullish on PAY, despite Verifone's management challenges to date. Maintaining Ingenico.

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Amy, I am astonished that a 16 year old could write something so sophisticated. I think that I made that clear. The article I read clearly stated it was not just one hacker. So I am not sure what you are referring to regarding the "lone hacker" . But the person who wrote it and sold it on the black market ( apparently to several groups ) is a 16 year old.

I don't know much about PAY or Verifone, but every system is "hackable". People write it and others can find ways around it. You sound like an investor.

I am bullish on cash, btw. : )

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Amy, I just looked up PAY . It is the stock symbol for Verifone. I am not sure what that has to do with the malware being written by a 16 year old in Russia.

But if Verifone has management issues, that is a very bad sign for a company overall. Verifone gets low marks on management stewardship. That is a very risky situation. Look at Enron and Tyco......

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Wow. I suppose it pays the bills for him, but imagine if that potential were put to good.

12 years ago

cuffcat

Active Member

Incredible. As customers we have the expectation of security in our financial transactions. Definitely need to be aware.

12 years ago

ramya

Veteran

I had heard that some kids are the best programmers. But this guy is unbelievable.
Just wish he knew how to channel his talent in right path

12 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Not surprising to me at all, kids these days are computre wizards... A shame that he is using his skills in such a negative way.....

I shopped Target during that time period and at first my bank sent a letter stating they were watching my account. My husband read that they were using them for things that would fly under the radar like gas and groceries...My bank didn't send me a new card until two weeks ago...

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Tracey, I asked my bank for a new debit card and they said there security is so good that they couldn't breech it. What ???? So I asked for a new card too.

Thistle, Cuffcat, Ramya...great point about them using their knowledge for good. I hope that he can't appreciate the magnitude of what he programmed instead of it being that he just doesn't care.

12 years ago

ramya

Veteran

Not sure Isabel, but during the begining of my IT career we had heard of the cyber security company hiring such people to expose there weak spots.
Or some industrial ones introduced virus which only they had solution to

12 years ago

Anonymous

It's not at all surprising that the system got hacked, but it is disturbing that a young person is off to such a bad start in life. What a waste of talent.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

16 year-olds have that kind of time, callousness, and malicious interest.

12 years ago

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