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We reported on this case back in September 2007, the largest US data breach in history so far<\/a> (45 million customer records!).<\/p>\n It seems like finally the people behind it have been busted, 11 people have been charged by US authorities.<\/p>\n The US authorities have charged 11 people in connection with the theft of credit-card details in the country’s largest-ever identity theft case. <\/p>\n They are accused of stealing more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers before selling the information. <\/p>\n They allegedly hacked into the computer systems of several major US retailers and installed software to access account details and passwords. Prosecutors said the alleged fraud was an “international conspiracy”.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It seems like a pretty well organised operation, internationally collaborated across multiple continents to hit multiple chains.<\/p>\n I’d guess they made quite some money out of it…but well now then are going to pay the price.<\/p>\n Three of those charged are US citizens. The others come from Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus and China. <\/p>\n The 11 suspects are alleged to have obtained card numbers, account information and password details by driving around neighbourhoods and hacking into wireless equipment. <\/p>\n They are said to have then concealed the information in computer servers both in the US and Europe. <\/p>\n The Department of Justice said the scam caused “widespread” losses among banks, retailers and ordinary consumers – although it did not put a precise figure on the financial damage.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It seems like the usual suspects when it comes to hacking though, eastern european countries and China<\/a> of course!<\/p>\n They seem to have covered their tracks pretty well so I wonder how they got caught. It’ll be an interesting case to follow and see what kind of sentences they get.<\/p>\n And of course if there’s any extradition involved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n