Supervalu, Albertsons discover new breaches in card networks

NEW YORK – Supervalu Inc. and the operator of the Albertsons supermarket chain, which both suffered data breaches this year, said they discovered additional attacks in the computer networks that process card payments.

A malicious software program was installed in late August or early September that was different from the intrusions that were previously announced last month, the companies said yesterday. Albertsons, operated by AB Acquisition LLC, said stores were affected in nine states including California, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota.

The retail industry is under increasing pressure to improve security of computer systems and credit cards following a wave of data breaches at companies including Home Depot Inc., Target Corp. and Neiman Marcus Group Ltd.

Supervalu said the latest breach struck the network that processes payment card transactions at some of its Shop ’n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy and Cub Foods owned and franchised stores.

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Last month, Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Supervalu said data may have been stolen from cards used in Supervalu stores from June 22 to July 17.

While the investigation is ongoing, Supervalu said the breach potentially captured data from cards used at some checkout lanes in four franchised Cub Foods stores. The malware “may have been successful in capturing account numbers, and in some cases also the expiration date, other numerical information and/or the cardholder’s name, from payment cards used at some checkout lanes,” at the four franchised Cub Foods during the period of Aug. 27 through Sept. 21, it said.

Identity protection

The company is working with law enforcement authorities investigating the matter, and is offering customers who used cards at those stores one year complimentary consumer identity protection services.

Meanwhile, AB Acquisition said its ACME Markets in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey were affected, as well as Jewel-Osco stores in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. In addition, Shaw’s and Star Markets stores in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island were also hit.

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