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Home Depot security breach affects 56 million

Posted at 5:00 PM, Sep 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-09-19 10:15:24-04

 The Home Depot estimates that a cyberattack earlier this year affected 56 million unique payment cards.
 
   The Atlanta-based home improvement retailer said Thursday it has eliminated the malware behind the attacks that took place between April and September.
 
   It said it has also completed a "major" payment security project that provides enhanced encryption of customers' payment data in the company's U.S. stores.
 
   Home Depot also is confirming its sales-growth estimates for the fiscal year and expects to earn $4.54 per share in fiscal 2014, up 2 cents from its prior guidance.

The retailer announced in early September the security issue had occurred, that it had happened in April through August.

According to Brian Krebs, of KrebsOnSecurity, sources close to the investigation said thieves likely targeted payment systems in self-checkout lanes.