Retailers feel security heat

Following several high-profile incidents of data theft, retailers are under increasing pressure to clean up their computer security act.

Leading the effort are MasterCard International and Visa USA, which are giving major retailers until June 30 to comply with a new set of computer security standards aimed at protecting consumer data. Retailers that don't comply with the Payment Card Industry, or PCI, data security standard may face penalties, including fines.

Credit card companies have been urging retailers to tighten data security for some time, but recent reports of credit card information theft at Polo Ralph Lauren and shoe retailer DSW have heightened the stakes for merchants both online and off.