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Home Depot confirms breach in U.S., Canada stores

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NEW YORK >> Home Depot confirmed on Monday that its payment systems have been breached, and says the hack could affect customers who used credit and debit cards at U.S. and Canadian stores.

The largest U.S. home improvement chain says it has not found evidence that debit card PINs were compromised, and nor that online customers or shoppers at stores in Mexico are affected. The company did not say how many cards might be affected, but did say that customers will not be held responsible for fraudulent charges to their accounts.

Home Depot said it is looking into the breach and is working with outside firms, its banking partners, and the U.S. Secret Service. The Atlanta company says the investigation is focused on the months since April.

Home Depot Inc. said last week that it was working with banks and law enforcement to investigate a potential hack but had not confirmed a breach of its data.

The home improvement chain is the latest retailer to experience a data breach. Others include Target, grocer Supervalu, restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s and the thrift store operations of Goodwill. The breaches have rattled shoppers’ confidence in the security of their personal data and pushed retailers, banks and card companies to increase security by speeding the adoption of microchips in U.S. credit and debit cards.

Home Depot plans to have chip-enabled checkout terminals at all of its U.S. stores by the end of this year.

The company’s shares fell 62 cents to $90.20 in aftermarket trading.

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