Consumers are increasingly using their credit and debit cards to make purchases at retailers' stores and on their websites, opting to swipe plastic in place of handing over cash for faster transactions and easier tracking of their finances. However, customers' information stored on these cards can be vulnerable to theft, so merchants need to take the necessary steps to protect card data.

Bank Info Security reports that hackers are developing more advanced malware to access retailers' systems to steal consumers' card information. Some of the new threats are able to circumvent merchants' anti-virus solutions, meaning that processes currently in place are sometimes not detecting attacks. Not only do these security breaches harm customers, but they do damage to retailers as well. Businesses can lose patrons from card data being compromised, and many companies lose money through these attacks.

However, there are things that merchants can do to better protect their shoppers' information. Legal Yodi recommends that retailers ensure their Wi-Fi connections are secure and have encryption capabilities. Strong retail POS solutions can also keep data safe by detecting outside threats.