Target-Transgender

A Target store in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)

Massachusetts is slated to receive $625,000 as part of a massive $18.5 million multi-state settlement after an investigation into Target's 2013 data breach.

The breach involved almost one million credit or debit cards in Massachusetts, according to the Bay State's attorney general, Maura Healey, whose office announced the settlement, calling it the "largest national data breach settlement to date." Nationwide, the total is around 41 million.

"Consumers should be able to shop without fear that their credit card information will be stolen," Healey said in a statement Tuesday.

"This settlement makes clear that we expect retailers to take meaningful steps to protect consumers' credit and debit card information from theft. Massachusetts will continue to take a leading role in protecting the security of our residents' data," she added.

Forty-six other states and the District of Columbia are also part of the settlement.

In the 2013 breach, which took place between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, hackers managed to get into Target's gateway server after stealing credentials through a third-party vendor, Healey's office said.

Among the things the hackers stole: Consumer names, telephone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, payment card numbers, expiration dates, security codes and encrypted debit pins.

Along with the $625,000 payment to Massachusetts, Target is also required to create an information security program, hire an executive to oversee it, and have an outside entity conduct a "comprehensive security assessment," according to Healey's office.

Healey's office added in a release: