Visa Security Alert Released

Visa has just issued a security alert relating to the storage of magnetic stripe data.

Visa is aware of compromises of credit and debit card account information resulting from the improper storage of magnetic stripe data (“track data”) after transaction authorization is completed. Track data refers to the information encoded in Track 1 and 2 contained within the magnetic stripe on the back of a payment card.

This information is received by a merchant’s point-of-sale (“POS”) system when a payment card is swiped through a terminal. Some merchant POS systems improperly store this data post authorization in violation of longstanding Visa USA Operating Regulations. Hackers are aware of this vulnerability and are targeting vulnerable POS systems to steal this information.

Download the security report on the download page or here.