At least six ongoing attacks at merchants across the U.S. have been uncovered by cyber security firm IntelCrawler, identifying credit card processing systems as infected with the same type of malicious software used to steal data from some 40 million credit cards at Target Inc.
“By helping a client recognize where they could be exposed to a loss is a first step in preventing it,” Greg Markell, an account executive with Jones Brown Inc., told Insurance Business. “Outside of insurance solutions for cyber-crime, there are many ways to help a client in setting up a first line of defense.”
Visa and the intelligence teams at several large banks have been alerted, says Andrew Komarov, the chief executive at IntelCrawler.
It is the latest evidence to suggest that disclosures from Target Inc. and Neiman Marcus about cyber attacks that resulted in the theft of payment cards and other customer data may only be the tip of the iceberg.
Retailers in New York and California were among those compromised with BlackPOS, the same malicious software used in the attack on Target.
“As an insurance broker, and trusted advisor, it is important to try to stay ahead when helping clients mitigate scenarios that could potentially affect their, and their businesses’, livelihood,” added Markell. “With this in mind, insurance brokers should not hesitate to ask clients about the strategies they employ when it comes to protecting consumer data.”
The names of those companies have not been released, and a spokesperson for Visa stated she could not immediately comment.
