TJX Companies who operates T. J. Maxx and Marshall's announced the theft of data that could involve over 40 million credit cards. And unlike the loss of a computer that is unlikely to result in any identity theft, this information was stolen by hacker with the intent of committing fraud.

In addition a spokesman for a bank affected that the information stolen includes Track 2 data. Track 2 data includes account numbers, expiration dates and encrypted personal identification numbers. Retailers are forbidden from storing this data under the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard.

Computer users in New Jersey can expect that personal information they give their Internet service providers be treated as private, a state appellate court decided Monday in the first such case considered in the state.

The court ruled that a computer user whose screen name hid her identity has a "legitimate and substantial" interest in anonymity.