Target on Friday confirmed that strongly encrypted PIN data was removed from its system during the security breach that took place between Black Friday and Dec. 15. The breach could impact 40 million shoppers who used credit cards or debit cards at Target's U.S. stores during that period; however, online shoppers have not been affected. The incident has been gathering steam in the media. Along with consumers' growing voices of frustration and anger, attorneys general in several states have pledged to try to help their constituents whose credit card accounts were compromised to deal with the fallout. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) has asked the Federal Trade Commission to immediately open an investigation into Target's security breach,
