Hackers stole 53M email addresses from The Home Depot customers

Hackers stole 53 million email addresses of self-checkout customers from The Home Depot during one of the largest data breaches of its kind this past spring, company officials said — adding that the files didn’t contain passwords, payment card information or other “sensitive” personal information.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

11/07/2014 1:55 p.m.

There is also no evidence that PIN numbers were lifted, the company said.

The hackers used a third-party vendor’s user name and password to enter Home Depot’s network in April, then deployed custom-built malware on the company’s self-checkout system, company officials said.

The Home Depot eventually eliminated the malware.

It’s offering free identity protection service — including credit monitoring — to any customer who used a credit or debit card at its stores beginning in April: homedepot.allclearid.com or 1-800-HOMEDEPOT (466-3337).

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