The target: Hy-Vee, a supermarket chain.
The take: 5.3 million cardholder accounts belonging to people from thirty-five mid-western U.S states. This led to the collection of a massive database which then went for sale on an underground website which sells credit and debit card data stolen from hacked merchants. This information can then be used to create counterfeit copies of the credit-debit cards, allowing the attackers to make profitable transactions.
The attack vector: Remotely installed card-skimming malware was used to compromise point-of-sale targets at Hy-Vee’s operated gas pumps, coffee shops and restaurants. The malicious software copied the data stored on credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe when they’re swiped at infected payment stations.