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Home Depot: 56M Payment Cards Exposed In Data Breach

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Tens of millions of credit cards are exposed. Home Depot customers are hit with a data breach that's even bigger than the Target hack last winter.

Christie Ileto has details of who is at risk.

Hackers are waging war on retailers. The latest casualty -- Home Depot. Between April and September, 56 million credit cards were compromised, making it the second largest data breach in U.S. history.

"Oh my god. I'm going to pay for someone else's charges," said customer Paris Davis.

The do-it-yourself retailer began investigating early this month after realizing hackers used custom made malware to infiltrate their payment systems. It is similar to what happened with Target, Neiman Marcus and Michaels.

But Thursday, it's personal.

Reporter: "How often do you go to Home Depot?"

Contractor: "Several times a day. I spend tens of thousands of dollars at Home Depot."

But contractor Richard Yates insists it is easiest to pay by card.

"The problem is they work in a governless society. They can operate anywhere in the world," said Norm Willox, identity theft expert. "And we operate within the boundaries and rules that we live under."

The retailer has even apologized on its website for the frustration and inconvenience. Home Depot is also stressing the malware has been removed from their network.

"I might start paying by cash. You just never know," a Home Depot customer named Errol said.

Still, this latest breach exposes retailers' vulnerabilities to hackers, who continue to prey on their networks.

Home Depot is shelling out more than $60 million because of the breach. Some of that money will be used for legal expenses.

Unlike other retailers who suffered data breaches, Home Depot says sales have not taken a dive.

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