Five Hackers Charged in Massive Data Breach Scheme

Biggest in U.S. history

Four Russians and a Ukrainian were charged for their role in the largest hacking and data breach scheme in U.S. history, according to Paul Fishman, the U.S. attorney in New Jersey.

The five conspired in a "worldwide scheme that targeted major corporate networks, stole more than 160 million credit card numbers and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses," Fishman said today in a statement. The men worked with Albert Gonzalez, a hacker serving 20 years in prison, according to the indictment unsealed in federal court in New Jersey.

The men operated "a prolific hacking organization" that "penetrated the secure computer networks of several of the largest payment-processing companies, retailers and financial institutions in the world," according to the indictment. They are accused of stealing user names and passwords, personal identification information, and credit and debit card numbers.