According to Home Depot, 53 million email addresses were stolen along with credit card data during a hacking attack back in September.

The home improvement chain admitted the email information was stolen along with 56 million credit card numbers after hackers broke into its systems. The hack was larger and potentially more damaging than previous attacks on stores such as Target and Michaels.

Home Depot said in a statement, "These files did not contain passwords, payment card information or other sensitive personal information."

Computer security expert Dr. Tino Posillico, from Farmingdale State College, says hackers could use the email addresses to try and trick customers into giving them more personal information in a phishing scam. He says to beware of any official-looking emails from Home Depot or other big companies asking you to re-confirm banking or credit card information.

Posillico also says emails with suspicious links should never be clicked.

Home Depot is offering free identity protection services, including credit monitoring to customers who were affected by the hack.