Details of the TJX hack begin to rapidly unfold thanks to a recent arrest

The layers of the TJX hack may be closer to unfolding: A Ukrainian man recently arrested in Turkey could bring authorities a step closer to identifying the masterminds behind the breach, where hackers stole files on millions of credit and debit card number accounts from TJX's network, according to published reports. (See The Face of Identity Theft and Hacking the Real TJX Story.)

Maksym Yastremskiy, a 24-year-old who was arrested by Turkish authorities a few weeks ago, is suspected of allegedly selling some of the credit and debit card numbers that were stolen from TJX transaction-payment processing systems. A U.S. Postal Inspection Service official told reporters that it appears that Yastremskiy could be a big-time trafficker in the stolen data -- including data from the TJX breach.

He allegedly sold the stolen account numbers online, according to reports, and the hope is he will lead authorities to the actual ringleaders of the TJX breach.

The break-in left around 45.7 million TJX customer credit card and debit card accounts at risk, and TJX has said it will cost the company around $118 million.

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About the Author(s)

Kelly Jackson Higgins, Editor-in-Chief, Dark Reading

Kelly Jackson Higgins is the Editor-in-Chief of Dark Reading. She is an award-winning veteran technology and business journalist with more than two decades of experience in reporting and editing for various publications, including Network Computing, Secure Enterprise Magazine, Virginia Business magazine, and other major media properties. Jackson Higgins was recently selected as one of the Top 10 Cybersecurity Journalists in the US, and named as one of Folio's 2019 Top Women in Media. She began her career as a sports writer in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and earned her BA at William & Mary. Follow her on Twitter @kjhiggins.

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