How do identity thieves steal information from retailers and other businesses?

How do identity thieves steal information from retailers and other businesses?

Robert Siciliano (Identity Theft Expert and CEO) gives expert video advice on: How do I know if I am a victim of financial identity theft?; How can I protect myself against financial identity theft? and more...

When you are making a debit or credit card transaction at any retailer, that retailer is responsible or they're supposed to be responsible for protecting your information. Unfortunately, many retailers actually store that data for a period of time. Sometimes they may make it accessible to hackers if they have not properly protected their networks. Whether they have a wireless connection that's not secured, they have improperly or nonavailable firewalls, or they simply have someone on the inside that may actually be installing some type of virus or spyware that monitors all transactions, allowing hackers remote access to your information. So it's very important that when you're doing business with any type of a retailer, you check in with them to find out what type of security they have in place.