In a staggering revelation, personal data belonging to a staggering 73 million current or former AT&T customers has been unearthed online, the telecom giant confirmed. The data breach, which saw sensitive information including addresses, social security numbers, and passcodes leaked onto the dark web, has sent shockwaves through the telecommunications industry.
AT&T, in its response, stated that it is yet to determine the origins of the leaked information on the dark web. However, the company has promptly initiated investigations, enlisting cybersecurity experts to delve into the matter. Taking proactive measures, AT&T has reset customers’ passcodes and issued a cautionary advisory urging customers to monitor their account activities and credit reports closely.
The breach, which seems to involve data dating back to 2019 or earlier, affects a staggering 7.6 million current customers and 65.4 million former account holders. Alongside critical details like full names, email addresses, and dates of birth, AT&T assured customers that financial information has not been compromised.
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AT&T’s statement indicates uncertainty regarding the source of the breach, whether it originated from the company’s internal systems or through a third-party supplier. The telecom giant, known for its expansive wireless 5G network covering approximately 290 million people across the United States, holds a significant position in the mobile and internet services sector.
This alarming revelation follows a recent outage in February that disrupted services for tens of thousands of phone users, eliciting an apology from AT&T and a compensatory offer of $5 credit for affected users. The outage, lasting around 12 hours, prompted an investigation by prosecutors in New York, further spotlighting concerns regarding the telecom company’s operational integrity and data security protocols.
As AT&T endeavors to contain the fallout from this unprecedented breach, the incident underscores the ever-looming threat posed by cybercriminals and the imperative for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors of the digital landscape.
Data Source: bbc