E-Tailer Says Customer Data Went Out on Net

Buy.com Inc., a leading online retailer, said that a security breach in its merchandise return system may have exposed thousands of customers’ names, phone numbers and addresses over the Internet. The Aliso Viejo company said no credit card information or other sensitive personal data were compromised. The firm, an online superstore with 3 million customers, said it sealed the security hole within three hours of learning about the problem Thursday afternoon. It was the first time that Buy.com, a 3-year-old company, had reported a privacy breach in its system.