Charges brought in TK Maxx data theft case

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"The sheer number of retailers attacked by these cyber criminals demonstrates the much broader challenges in protecting sensitive consumer data from this increasing threat," said Sherry Lang, senior vice president at TJX.

The vulnerability that Gonzalez exploited has been around "as long as we have had Wi-Fi" wireless networks," said Ted Julian, vice president of strategy and marketing at Application Security, a maker of database security software.

With multiplying entry points into corporate networks via wireless store networks, cash registers and even in-store computer kiosks for job applicants, hackers have more weak spots to exploit.

Corporations may need to protect specific internal databases that contain sensitive consumer data, Julian said.

"Rather than locking every single door, let's get all the safes," Julian said. "Not that we don't want to lock the doors, but if that worked, then we wouldn't be in this mess."

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