CRM News: Customer Data

Wednesday - June 24, 2009

The parent company of retailers T.J. Maxx and Marshall's will pay $9.75 million in a settlement with multiple states related to a massive data theft that exposed tens of millions of payment card numbers. Framingham, Mass.-based TJX said Tuesday it will pay $2.5 million to create a data security fund for states as well as a settlement amount of $5.5 million and $1.75 million to cover expenses related to the states' investigations. However, TJX stressed that it "firmly believes" that it did not violate any consumer protection or data security laws. [More...]

Will PCI Ever Make the Grade?

Friday - June 19, 2009

Every time you swipe your credit card and wait for the transaction to be approved, sensitive data including your name and account number are ferried from store to bank through computer networks, each step a potential opening for hackers. While you may take steps to protect yourself against identity theft, an Associated Press investigation has found the banks are not being nearly as cautious as they could. [More...]

The Multichannel E-Commerce Path Out of the Recession

Tuesday - June 16, 2009

In the midst of the U.S. economic crisis, cautious spending and downsizing have left the retail industry in dire straits. Even as retail numbers drop, however, online shopping and total online sales continue to show steady growth in the face of adverse economic conditions. [More...]

Keeping Credit Card Numbers Well-Cloaked: Q&A With Fingerhut's Mark Lieberg

Thursday - June 11, 2009

It's a fact that might not bring a lot of comfort to consumers and businesses, but it's true: The methods for protecting e-commerce transactions haven't changed a great deal since online shopping became a viable option in the early '90s. SSL and TSL encryption are the protocols that slap on that little padlock you see at the bottom of a Web site once you've begun the purchase process. [More...]

Sears Settles Charges It Duped Customers Into Downloading Spyware

Friday - June 5, 2009

The Federal Trade Commission announced a preliminary settlement Thursday with retailer Sears Holdings over allegations the merchant failed to disclose how much personal information it was collecting from a group of consumers. The finding, which resolves a complaint against Sears Holdings Management, isn't an admission that the retailer broke any laws. [More...]

Email Receipts, Confirmations, Tracking Numbers - and Marketing

Tuesday - June 2, 2009

With consumers' inboxes perpetually filled with clutter, marketers are challenged to find new ways to break through with valuable, targeted messages that their customers actually want to open. The secret could lie in a largely untapped vehicle: transactional emails. The historical open rates of transactional emails hover around 70 percent because they are, by nature, highly relevant. [More...]

Data Security's $64 Billion Question: Who Are You?

Thursday - May 28, 2009

In today's Internet-driven world of business, customer data -- traditionally the lifeblood of any enterprise -- takes on a new and frightening importance. On the one hand, businesses have to provide partners, staff and contractors access to data; on the other, they have to ensure that data does not get lost by accident -- or stolen. [More...]

PCI in the Age of Heartland

Thursday - May 14, 2009

In March, Visa announced that it was removing Heartland and RBS WorldPay, two credit card processors that had experienced major data breaches in the prior months, from its list of PCI-compliant companies. The action is seen by many in the industry as being mainly for show, but the removal of the processors brings attention to the very real limits of PCI as a data protection standard. [More...]

Public Ransom Demand Distinguishes Va. Breach in a Data-at-Risk World

Saturday - May 9, 2009

A hacker -- or a group of hackers -- is attempting to hold hostage some 8 million records purportedly acquired from the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program, according to ransom note posted to the program's Web site on April 30. Few statements have been released by Virginia state authorities, other than ID theft warnings. [More...]

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 10: Minding Your Privacy Ps and Qs

Thursday - April 16, 2009

At a time when identity theft is a common concern, protecting the personal information of anyone visiting your Web site is something that every business should be thinking about. While legislation may vary from state to state in terms of how much you're required to do to protect your customers' personal information, putting measures in place is good for business, pure and simple. [More...]

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