Hackers like retail therapy, too
Many people assume the most-hacked industry is finance, but the report found that on a per-client basis, retail clients experienced 2.7 times the number of attacks as finance. Heimerl says there are two main reasons behind this trend. First, retail makes an attractive target because it’s so easy for hackers to sell the personal information they steal on the black market.
Second, retail has a highly complicated network of different systems cobbled together, each with separate points of entry. There are point of sale (POS) systems in the stores, distribution systems in the warehouses and central business systems at company headquarters to keep the whole operation running. In such complex environments, Heimerl says, it’s important for any service provider or reseller to think through security measures at every level of the retail chain.
Many people assume the most-hacked industry is finance, but the report found that on a per-client basis, retail clients experienced 2.7 times the number of attacks as finance. Heimerl says there are two main reasons behind this trend. First, retail makes an attractive target because it’s so easy for hackers to sell the personal information they steal on the black market.
Second, retail has a highly complicated network of different systems cobbled together, each with separate points of entry. There are point of sale (POS) systems in the stores, distribution systems in the warehouses and central business systems at company headquarters to keep the whole operation running. In such complex environments, Heimerl says, it’s important for any service provider or reseller to think through security measures at every level of the retail chain.
