WASHINGTON – A Senate committee called out Target Corp. on Wednesday for missteps that some members said contributed to one of the biggest data heists in U.S. history.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told the company's chief financial officer that Target missed "multiple warnings" that could have enabled it to thwart the breach of financial and personal information for up to 110 million customers.
"The best technology in the world is useless without good management," Blumenthal said at a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Target Chief Financial Officer John Mulligan assured the committee that the Minneapolis-based company is making it harder for hackers to break into its computer system.
He said there are now more separations between key portions of the company's computer network. The company also has increased its investment in computer software that blocks malicious software from running on its point-of-sale computer terminals. Additionally, Mulligan said Target has added a second layer of authentication for those who want to access its computers.
The moves are aimed at shortcomings exposed in the successful cyberattack.
Blumenthal was not the only senator to criticize Target's handling of the breach. Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Target "fell far short" of protecting its customers, based on a report his staff prepared. The report showed missed opportunities for Target to intervene to stop the hacking.
Rockefeller expressed concern that several Target executives may have known about suspicious activity in the computer system in November, a month ahead of the actual data theft.