Home Depot (NYSE: HD) says it's offering free identity protection services, including credit monitoring, to those customers who might be potentially hurt by a possible data breach at the home improvement chain.
The company also said Wednesday that it's working with leading security firms Symantec and FishNet Security to help it investigate a possible data hacking.
The moves come as Home Depot is trying to reassure customers that it's doing all it can the day after it learned of "suspicious" activity that pointed to a breach. It said Tuesday that it was working with both banks and law enforcement.
The possible data breach at Home Depot was first reported by Brian Krebs of Krebs on Security, a website that focuses on cybersecurity.
Krebs said multiple banks reported "evidence that Home Depot stores may be the source of a massive new batch of stolen credit and debit cards" that went on sale on the black market earlier Tuesday.
Home Depot emphasized that in the event of a breach, customers will not be responsible for any possible fraudulent charges. It said that the financial institution that issued the card or Home Depot are responsible for the charges. It also encouraged customers to closely monitor their accounts and reach out to their card issuers if they notice any unusual activity.
Hackers have broken security walls for many retailers in recent months, including Target, grocery store chain Supervalu, P.F. Chang's and the thrift store operations of Goodwill. The rash of breaches has 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 into U.S. credit and debit cards.
Krebs reported that it's not clear how many stores were affected but preliminary analysis indicates the breach may have affected all 2,200 Home Depot stores in the U.S. Several banks that were contacted by Krebs said they believe the breach may have started in late April or early May.
Krebs said that the party responsible for the breach may be the same group of Russian and Ukrainian hackers suspected in the Target breach late last year. Krebs also broke the news of Target's breach.
Home Depot shares opened Thursday's trading up $1.10, or 1.2%, to $90.10 U.S., within a 52-week range of $72.21 U.S. to $93.52 U.S.
