A security breach at Network Solutions has exposed credit card transactions for more than a half million cardholders.  Malicious software found on their E-Commerce servers transferred transaction and credit card information to servers outside of the company’s control.  Network Solutions resolved this breach began notifying their merchant customers on July 24, 2009.

According to an announcement by Network Solutions, the breach exposed transaction data on approximately 4,343 of their 10,000 E-Commerce merchants, which ultimately affected the merchants’ customers.  Outside experts, brought in to determine the scope of the breach, determined that transaction and credit card data for approximately 573,928 credit cardholders was captured by the malicious software.  They further determined that the breach occurred over a three month period from approximately March 12, 2009 through June 8, 2009.

Though Network Solutions states that they are unaware of any related credit card misuse resulting from their security breach, they are actively working to retain a credit reporting agency to work on behalf of the affected cardholders as indicated in the following statement.

We are arranging for a leading credit reporting agency to work with us, on behalf of our merchants, to contact our merchants’ customers whose data may have been affected and to provide services that will help potentially affected U.S. based customers protect their information. These services will be provided free of charge to our merchants and their U.S. based customers, and notifications to them will be going out within the next few days.

Network Solutions’ E-Commerce merchants can also refer to this FAQ for additional details and contact information.