Just found this out: while not all, some of Network Solutions’ servers had been hacked. Those especially affected were various mom-and-pop stores whose e-commerce web sites are hosted Network Solutions.

The servers that were hacked were used by Network Solutions in their e-commerce service offerings. Unfortunately some of them contained debit and credit card information.

According to Security Fix’s report, more than 573,000 debit and credit
card accounts were compromised. At least 4,343 customers, mostly from mom-and-pop online stores, were affected by this.

Network Solutions spokeswoman Susan Wade said hackers put in web site code that intercepted and obtained both personal and financial information for customers who purchased from those stores. She added their company is working with Federal law enforcement to investigate the breach.

Security Fix further indicated that Network Solutions began notifying affected customers by e-mail and postal mail since Friday. Network Solutions is also offering to pay for 12 months of credit monitoring service through Trans Union those directly affected by this.

Speaking of which, Network Solutions has created a site both for people whose financial and personal data were compromised by this hacking, and for merchants hit by this. I’ve included links below to get more details what to do:

For consumers:

http://www.careandprotect.com/customer-info/index.html

For merchants:

http://www.careandprotect.com/merchant-info/index.html

This incident was further blogged about at DomainNameWire and Network Solutions’ blog. You can further read on these below:

Network Solutions’ Alert to Ecommerce Customers:
http://blog.networksolutions.com/2009/alert-to-ecommerce-customers/

DomainNameWire On The Hack:
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/25/network-solutions-e-commerce-servers-hacked/

You can also read Security Fix’s report
here.

No doubt some people believe Network Solutions should’ve done more. If anything, Network Solutions is doing something (better than nothing) to make up for what happened.

Truth is, this is one of the inherent risks of going online. Anybody’s site can be hacked into or compromised, including mine.

Also unfortunately, investing in security can be quite costly, especially if you’re dealing with lots of people. But if you’re doing business online, one will have to invest in keeping their site and data as secure as possible from such kinds of attacks.

Sigh, words aren’t enough to express my sympathies to those affected by this. I just hope whatever damage had or has been done can be repaired at the soonest possible time.

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