Scale of Home Depot Data Breach Underreported

Home Depot said hackers stole 53 million email addresses in addition to the customer data for 56 million payment cards previously disclosed in September. Hackers used a third-party vendor’s user name and password to enter the perimeter of its network, the retailer said on Thursday. “Customers should be on guard against phishing scams, which are designed to trick customers into providing personal information in response to phony e-mails,” the company said. Home Depot’s breach comes weeks before holiday shopping goes into overdrive, on Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving.