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5 indicted in data theft from 160 million consumer accounts

July 25, 2013

On Thursday, U.S. authorities indicted five men from the former Soviet Union for data breaches that involved theft of information for 160 million consumer accounts from companies ranging from Dow Jones to Wet Seal.

The men charged are alleged to have worked with Alberto Gonzalez, who is said to have spearheaded the largest data theft ever in a 2008 attack against Heartland Payment Systems, according to a report by CUTimes.

Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and one of the indicting authorities, said the case underscored the danger from individuals who have the "expertise and the inclination" to threaten economic well-being, privacy and national security.

"We cannot be too vigilant and we cannot be too careful," he said.

Two of the indicted men are in U.S. custody; three others are still at large.

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