Wards didn't tell customers about breach
Hackers captured at least 51,000 credit card numbers
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25415152/
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Didn't we just talk about this? OK, this happens, but then to not tell your customers that some of their confidential information is in the loose? Come on!
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Ok, I tried to make the rant short, but the bottom line is that someone else didn't protect our information, and this "someone else" didn't bother to tell us they screwed up! This is proof that we can define process until we're blue in the face. We have laws that saw these breaches must be disclosed, but wards chose not to disclose until they got caught! We have to have people that are willing to understand the intent of the process, not just check the box. The reality is though, that if we find people that care about our information, they also care about us as consumers. That's called customer service!
"But in response to fears of identity theft, 44 states have passed laws that generally require organizations holding consumer data to tell people when their information has leaked..."
So where are the other 6 states? I don't know but the reality is that we need to be more careful with our information, but no one else is and it is our ultimate responsibility. Of course, every company wants us to use our credit card on their site. Remember the old days of C.O.D. ? Now businesses are paid for their product before it's shipped out. They have our money before we have our product and if we are unhappy with our product, now we have to fight to get our money back! Credit Cards are convenient, I don't know how I'd get along without one anymore, but we have to use common sense as well.
This is the last quote of the article, doesn't this make us all feel more confident?
"Probably every one of our cards is up there somewhere now," Referring to the fact that most likely all of our information has already been disclosed by now.
In the end, the only way a consumer can prevent a breach of their information by any company is to vote with their feet. Shop somewhere else! Businesses, like people respond to pain. Once the Business pain is so high that they are loosing revenue, due to their lack of commitment, they will either close their doors, or truly get it right.
until next time!
Rob