Expect targeted attacks after massive Epsilon email breach, say experts

[Peaches]

Expect targeted attacks after massive Epsilon email breach, say experts

Database of stolen addresses is a gold mine for hackers and scammers

By Gregg Keizer

Computerworld - Security experts today warned users to be on the watch for targeted email attacks after a breach at a major marketing firm that may have put millions of addresses in the hands of hackers and scammers.

The addresses will also be invaluable to attackers playing in the high-stakes game of hacking major corporations like the one that RSA Security disclosed last month, a researcher added.

Last week, Irving, Texas-based Epsilon admitted that names and email addresses of a "subset of Epsilon clients" were accessed by hackers. Epsilon, which sent 6.5 billion messages in 2009, runs email marketing and customer loyalty campaigns for some of the country's biggest banks, credit card companies and retailers, including American Express, Best Buy, Citibank, Capital One, Kroger, Visa and U.S. Bank.

Those companies and others have acknowledged the Epsilon hack, and warned their customers to be wary of spam, according to a list compiled by security blogger Brian Krebs.

Full story here: http://www.computerw...ach_say_experts

And here: http://www.darkreadi...email-data.html