Recently, I received a letter from Nordstrom, the upscale Seattle-based retailer known for its stellar customer service. "We have learned that your login information (email and password) may be known to people who attempted to use it to access your online account without your authorization."
It wasn't shocking news, to be honest. I knew my usual email/password combination had been compromised in a massive security breach at Gawker Media in late 2010. But Nordstrom's communiqué was an unsettling reminder of online accounts I hadn't thought to update. It also confirmed that fraudsters were actively using my old login information for criminal pursuits. Not good.
But as I continued reading the letter—and an enclosed four-page fact sheet—I became less concerned about possible fraud and more impressed with Nordstrom's assured handling of the situation.
Here's why...