Hackers Breach Troy Group’s Check Services

By Tamara Chuang, The Orange County Register, Calif.

Oct. 27–Santa Ana’s Troy Group said that hackers attacked computers that handle its online customer check services. The company has notified customers and the FBI and hired a forensic analysis firm to study the invasion.

Dennis Fairchild, Troy’s spokesman and chief financial officer, did not return calls on Wednesday. When the breach occurred or whether confidential customer data were accessed is unknown.

In a statement late Tuesday, Patrick Dirk, Troy’s chief executive, said the company will pursue criminal action and is looking at future prevention.

Troy sells electronic payment software and services to banks and other businesses. The technology, called eCheck Secure, allows Internet merchants and financial institutions to accept checks online or in call centers, according to Troy’s Web site. The eCheck servers were compromised in the attack.

Financial information is a hot target for people cracking into computers because of the potential monetary rewards, said Marc Maiffret, chief hacking officer for eEye Digital Security, an Aliso Viejo firm that works with companies to secure their software products.

Maiffret said the attacker was more than a curious child.

“Being e-checking and with the FBI involved, most likely someone thought this through and it was a targeted attack,” he said.

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