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Hacked Target should zero in on an explanation

By Staff | Dec 21, 2013

In-store Target shoppers got a big lump of coal deposited in their stockings this week when the nation’s second-largest discounter reported that information contained in 40 million credit and debit card accounts had been stolen. It was a stunning reminder that the amazing conveniences enabled by technology come with calamitous risks.

Industry observers will now be looking to see if the news will hurt the company’s brick and mortar sales, or drive shoppers to its website, purchases from which were not affected.

The Minneapolis-based retailer was mum on how the breach occurred but admitted the accounts were hacked between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. That’s a little more than unsettling because it shows that for at least 19 days Target was oblivious to the fact that its systems were being violated.

The company must now come forward with a clear and comprehensive explanation of what happened and why, as well as a full admission of what it knew and when. Anything less should give consumers pause for ever shopping at Target again.

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