PITTSBURGH – Retailers, including Gap, J.C. Penney, Nike, Target and Walgreens, are partnering with the Retail Industry Leaders Association to prevent data breaches, the Los Angeles Times reports. The intelligence-sharing center will gather data and allow merchants to exchange information with each other about possible breaches or threats from hackers and cybercriminals.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service will work with the groups on this program. Retailers will be able to anonymously give tips to the National Cyber Forensics Training Alliance center. A cyber-analyst and a technician will investigate incoming data for new malware strains, underground criminal activity and weaknesses in software.

“We have seen a sharp increase in the number of malicious actors attempting to access personal information or compromise the systems we all rely on, in the retail industry and elsewhere,” said Phyllis Schneck, deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity for the National Protection and Programs Directorate at DHS.

The center also will provide education and training to retailers, as well as resources to combat data breaches.Target recently announced its intention of issuing branded credit and debit cards with chip and PIN technology. For more on chip and PIN and NACS’s efforts on behalf of retailers to ensure greater data security, read the May issue cover story Half Covered.