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January 27, 2006

R.I. official: Up to 4,000 credit card numbers may have been hacked

Up to 4,000 credit card numbers may have been taken from the state's Web site by hackers, a state official said today.

The private company that runs the Web site, New England Interactive, first told the state last month that there had been a security breach at RI.gov, Department of Administration Director Beverly Najarian said.

This week, the company said up to 4,000 credit card numbers may have been taken. All online transactions were suspended until any possible security holes could be closed, Najarian said.

It wasn't immediately clear when the online transaction were suspended. Najarian said she was unsure when the hacking happened or how often the perpetrators penetrated the site's security.

The Journal reported today that hackers posting on a Russian Web site claimed to have gained access to credit card information for up to 53,000 transactions. Thomas Viall, general manager of RI.gov, said in an interview with The Journal yesterday that the number was "grossly exaggerated," without providing a number.

Also today, Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty said in a statement, "It is outrageous that people surfing the Web in Moscow knew about this crime and how it was conducted weeks before state officials and the victims (knew) of the crime."

- The Associated Press and Journal reports

The company's Web site said this morning that it also does business for state governments in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Erin Hutchins, who manages the Maine government's site, said there have been no reports of hacking. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department spokeswoman Liza Poinier said New England Interactive hasn't handled the transactions on its Web site for about 18 months. Officials at Vermont's Department of Information and Innovation did not immediately return a call for comment.

Posted by Jack Perry at 4:28 PM | Permalink