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Staples: millions exposed in data breach

Office-supply retailer Staples Inc. announced as many as 1.16 million payment cards were hacked during the back-to-school shopping weeks at stores in the Northeastern United States.

By Amy R. Connolly
Hackers stole personal information from 1.16 million credit and debit cards used at Staples earlier this year, company officials said. Photo by Anthony92931/CC
Hackers stole personal information from 1.16 million credit and debit cards used at Staples earlier this year, company officials said. Photo by Anthony92931/CC

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Staples Inc. said hackers stole personal information from up to 1.16 million payment cards used in the Northeastern United States during the busy back-to-school shopping weeks earlier this year.

Malware was deployed at 115 of the office-supply company's approximately 1,400 stores in the United States, the company said.

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At 113 of the stores, the breach allowed access to personal information from August 10 to Sept. 16. At two stores, personal information was accessed between July 20 and Sept. 16. The company established a web site that shows which stores were breached.

In response, Staples is offering free identity theft insurance, identity protection and a free credit report to customers who used a payment card during the relevant time periods.

Staples now joins the long list of U.S. retailers hacked this year including Target and Home Depot.

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