It has been reported that the breach at Ticketmaster was just “the tip of the iceberg” of a wider, massive credit card skimming operation, new research has found. At least 800 e-commerce sites are said to be affected, after they included code developed by third-party companies and later altered by hackers, according to security firm RiskIQ.
Lee Munson, Security Researcher at Comparitech.com:
“If malicious code writers have indeed been able to affect the source code of third-party software used by hundreds of online retailers, the potential impact could be massive.
By altering code linked to customer experience, the attackers could actually gain access to a plethora of personal, payment card and other sensitive data across a range of sites if their internal security mechanisms are weak.
While third-party code certainly serves a purpose, in terms of saving time and money for the implementer, it is a very real risk that should be given careful consideration before being accepted.
If it is accepted, important data should always be encrypted and segregated wherever possible to prevent issues such as those seen recently at Ticketmaster.”
Jake Moore, Security Specialist at ESET:
“As reported it seems this could be the tip of the iceberg. If your data is included in this breach, you’ll need to take action to protect yourself. If you find your credit or debit card has been compromised consider the following:
Call your bank or card issuer, cancel the card and request a new card. No bank will ever mind being contacted for you being cautious. You’ll also want to check your card statements for suspicious activity or purchases online – in particular small amounts just in case they are testing your card before a larger transaction is placed online. It also might be worth adding extra fraud alert security on your account.
And it goes without saying change your Ticketmaster password. After any breach of such velocity, it is always a good idea to change your passwords along with the same ones used on other websites.”
Chris Olson, CEO at The Media Trust:
“The massive campaign that breached TicketMaster and 800+ other heavily-trafficked sites shows that while a company’s website is the first point of contact for prospects and customers, it’s also an entry point for cybercriminals, who break in by compromising a trusted third party. Breaches through third parties are not only easier, they’re also more efficient. Third parties have weaker security measures and provide the way into a number of secure networks through trusted connections. Bringing in-house the services third parties provide won’t be practical or cost-effective. The best way for companies to hammer out the chinks in the armor is by getting to know all the third parties that support their websites, working closely with them on improving each other’s security postures, scanning their sites to identify any code that exhibits suspicious or malicious behavior, and terminating malicious behavior as soon as its’ found.”
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