Home Depot probes possible credit card data breach

Home Depot said Tuesday it's working with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to investigate "unusual activity" amid reports that hackers have stolen credit card information from customers at the home improvement retailer.

The possible breach was first reported by Krebs Security, a website run by technology journalist Brian Krebs, which says the breach is similar to prior attacks that managed to steal sensitive information from Target and other retailers earlier this year.

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"I can confirm we are looking into some unusual activity and we are working with our banking partners and law enforcement to investigate," Home Depot spokesperson Paula Drake said in a statement.

"Protecting our customers’ information is something we take extremely seriously, and we are aggressively gathering facts at this point while working to protect customers. If we confirm that a breach has occurred, we will make sure customers are notified immediately."

Home Depot has some 2,200 stores across the U.S. and more than 180 in Canada. The chain declined to offer any more details about whether Canadian stores might have been affected.

"Right now, for security reasons, it would be inappropriate for us to speculate further — but we will provide further information as soon as possible," the statement said.

Shares in Home Depot were off almost three per cent on the New York Stock Exchange after word of the possible breach emerged on Tuesday.