Skip Links

Network World

  • Social Web 
  • Email 
  • Close

TJX lists mounting costs of data-breach debacle

By Ellen Messmer , Network World , 06/08/2007

Retailer TJX yesterday detailed the mounting legal woes and financial costs spawning from a data-breach disclosed in January that’s believed to have resulted in the compromise of at least 45.6 million credit and debit cards.

In its quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, TJX acknowledged that the computer intrusion still under investigation has cost it $20 million during the first quarter alone, and that costs were expected to continue to mount in future quarters.

In addition, stated TJX, “We face potential liabilities from customers, banks, payment card companies and governmental entities with respect to the computer intrusion.”

TJX says it’s facing several “putative class-action lawsuits” filed in Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and elsewhere. These lawsuits are said to represent individuals, financial institutions and others claiming injury and shareholder interest associated with the computer intrusion. Some lawsuits also name Fifth Third Bancorp as a defendant because it processed payment-card transactions for TJX.

TJX is also facing a lawsuit from the Massachusetts Bankers Association representing banks pressing to have their losses associated with the data breach covered by TJX.

TJX stated in the filing that the $20 million in costs tied to the data breach was spent on investigating the security lapse, strengthening computer security and communicating with customers about the compromise of sensitive financial data.

TJX, which has 125,000 employees, operates hundreds of T.J. Maxx and other stores in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the quarterly filing, TJX reported net sales for the quarter ending April 28 were $4.1 billion, up from $3.8 billion the same quarter a year ago. Net income for the quarter was down from $163.8 million a year ago to $162.1 million in the first quarter of this year.

Partner Content

Brilliantly simple security and control solutions for email, web and endpoint

www.sophos.com

Stopping data leakage

Learn how to exploit your current security investment to control the information that flows into, through and out of your network.

Download the white paper.

Why detection rates aren't enough

Evaluating endpoint security products is a time-consuming and daunting task. Learn the six critical questions you need to ask to prospective vendors to get the right endpoint solution.

Download the white paper.

Unauthorized applications: Taking back control

Employees installing and using unauthorized applications like IM, VoIP, games and peer-to-peer file-sharing applications cause many businesses serious concern. How do you control these applications?

Download the white paper.

Comment
Login
Forgot your account info?
Add comment
Anonymous comments subject to moderator approval. Register here for member benefits.
Have a NetworkWorld account? Log in here. Register now for a free account.

Videos

rssRss Feed
Get instant email notification when white papers, webcasts, executive guides are added to our library. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest on IT Technologies with Network World's Resource Alerts.