Every Michaels Inc. store in Alabama was reportedly affected by the company's data breach, Al.com reported Tuesday.
The 12 affected locations included those situated in Bessemer, Dothan, Hoover, Prattsville and Spanish Fort, according to a company press release. Stores in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa were also in the mix of the breach.
Michaels CEO Chuck Rubin said the software used in the incidents didn't exist within the company's infrastructure.
"Our customers are always our number one priority and we are truly sorry for any inconvenience or concern Michaels may have caused," Rubin said in a statement. "We are committed to assisting affected customers by providing fraud assistance, identity protection and credit monitoring services. Importantly, with this incident now fully contained, we can assure customers this malware no longer presents a threat to shoppers at Michaels or Aaron Brothers."
Rubin said his company is taking a proactive approach toward making purchases made with cards safer.
"In an era where very sophisticated and determined criminals have proven capable of successfully attacking a wide range of computer networks, we must all increase our levels of vigilance," Rubin continued in the release." Michaels is committed to working with all appropriate parties to improve the security of payment card transactions for all consumers."
Hackers reportedly took customers card numbers and expiration dates by using a special form of malware during the breach, according to the press release.
The event affected Michaels stores on dates ranging from May 8, 2013 to January 27, 2014, resulting in 2.6 million snagged cards - that's seven percent of the total number of cards people utilized as payment methods at Michaels stores in the United States during the aforementioned dates.
According to the release, 400,000 cards used in Aaron Brothers stores were most likely hit by the malware oin the span of June 26, 2013 and Feb. 27, 2014.
Click here for a complete list of Michael's stores and dates that have been impacted.
Click here for a complete list of Aaron Brothers stores and dates that have been impacted.
