Credit cards in the hands of hackers

2003/02/18 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Internet

American Visa and MasterCard recognize the visit of a hacker. Apparently, the hacker overcame the security system of the company that processes transactions in the trade with credit cards.

In this way, it managed to enter 8 million accounts. With MasterCard cards, the hacker was introduced in 2.2 million accounts and Visa in 3.4 million. In the rest of cases it was accessed through the companies of the other two credit cards, which have not given their name. For its part, Visa and MasterCard recognize that accounts of 1% of the 574 million customers who use their cards were in the hands of the hacker.

Just spotting the footprint of the hacker, Visa and MasterCard alerted the banks, but the hacker did not use these accounts. However, it showed the weakness of security systems.

The two credit card companies have not detailed much of what happened. For example, they have not said which bank were warned, nor if the problem occurred at national or national level. Yes, they say they collaborate with the FBI to find the culprit. Who is guilty? A poor security system or hacker? Or perhaps the two?