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Merchants and processors have become "more aware" of data security in the months since Heartland Payment Systems Inc. and RBS Worldpay revealed that hackers had compromised their networks, says Bob Russo, general manager of the Wakefield, Mass.-based Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. "As much as I hate to say it, these [breaches] in the news create awareness," says Russo. "If something good can come of something bad, that's what it is." Learning about breaches that have occurred in the industry "gets people to think about their security and have another look," he says. Princeton, N.J.-based Heartland announced in January that hackers had gained access to its network (CardLine, 1/20). RBS announced in December that hackers had breached the processor's computer system and potentially compromised cardholder information (CardLine, 12/29/08).
