Security freeze on credit reports could curb identity theft

Really, must we all go back to cash-only to protect our personal information?

In the past several years, millions of consumers have been put at risk of identity theft as their personal information has been either stolen from or left unprotected by the companies that collect it. The latest data breach involves TJX Companies Inc., which operates the T.J. Maxx and Marshalls retail stores.

The company recently revealed that the computer systems that process customer transactions had "suffered an unauthorized intrusion," and that some information had been stolen. In a statement, TJX said it did not know the full extent of the theft or how many customers might have been affected.

The break-in involved the portion of TJX's computer network that handles credit card, debit card, check and merchandise return transactions for customers of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and A.J. Wright stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as the Winners and HomeSense stores in Canada.

Read more at: Security freeze on credit reports could curb identity theft