Personal information belonging to millions of former and current AT&T customers has been exposed online. The incident affected roughly 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and 65.4 million past customers, resulting in approximately 73 million compromised accounts.
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AT&T Data Breach
AT&T says it changed the passcodes of about 7.6 million account users whose personal information was exposed on the dark web following a data breach. Anyone who has been affected has been gotten or will get an email or a letter from the organisation.
The compromised data collection, which contains information from more than 65.4 million former and 7.6 million recent account holders, was dumped into the dark web roughly two weeks ago but looks to have originated in 2019 or before, the business said on Saturday.
It includes personal information such as names, birth dates, cell phone numbers, email addresses, and Social Security numbers. AT&T’s wireless 5G network feeds approximately 290 million people in the United States, and the company is a major mobile and internet service provider.
According to AT&T, the source of the security vulnerability is currently unknown. AT&T is actively investigating the incident, but it remains unclear whether the breach originated from the company itself or a third-party supplier. Customers are encouraged to keep track of their account activity and credit reports.
What type of data Breach happened with AT&T accounts?
The personal information of 73 million current and past AT&T customers has been exposed online. The disclosed data contains sensitive information, including:
- Addresses
- Social Security numbers (SSNs)
- Passcodes
- Full names
- Email addresses
- Dates of birth
- Phone Numbers
The breach occurred on the dark web, and AT&T has taken action by resetting customers’ passcodes. The hacked data appears to be from 2019 or earlier, however it does not include personal financial information or phone history.
What is the response of AT&T after the Data Breach?
AT&T’s response to the recent data breach involved several key actions:
Passcode Resets
- AT&T promptly reset the passcodes for the 7.6 million existing account holders whose sensitive personal information was compromised.
Investigation and Collaboration
- The company is actively investigating the incident in collaboration with external cybersecurity experts. They are working to determine the source of the breach.
Customer Vigilance
- AT&T urges affected customers to remain vigilant by monitoring their account activity and keeping an eye on their credit reports.
AT&T’s swift response underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the need to safeguard personal data. This breach closely resembles a similar incident in 2021, which AT&T never acknowledged publicly.
What can be possible reasons for AT&T Data Breach?
However, it is uncertain how the AT&T data breach occurred, although some reasonable causes include supply chain weaknesses, third-party participation, timing, and historical pattern contributing.
Let’s delve into the possible reasons behind the AT&T data breach:
- Supply Chain Vulnerability:
The breach may have occurred due to a supply chain cyber-incident. An AT&T marketing vendor was reportedly hacked in January 2023, leading to the exposure of sensitive data.
- Third-Party Involvement:
While AT&T denies that the breach originated from their systems, it remains uncertain whether a third-party provider could be involved. The data surfaced on the dark web and includes information from over 70 million AT&T users.
- Timing and Capitalization: Speculation suggests that the threat actor may have timed the breach to capitalise on AT&T’s recent cellular outage, which remains unexplained. The outage occurred in February 2024 and affected tens of thousands of customers.
- Historical Precedent:
AT&T has faced previous data breaches, including one in 2021 that closely resembles the current incident. Cybersecurity experts warn that the leaked customer data could be used for targeted attacks.
What should I do if I am also affected by AT&T Data Breach?
If you believe you are affected by the AT&T data breach, here’s what you should do:
- Keep an eye on your email or mailbox. AT&T is sending notifications directly to affected customers. These notices began going out on Saturday.
- Even if you haven’t received a notification yet, monitor your account activity closely. Look out for any suspicious transactions or unauthorised access.
- AT&T has already taken action by resetting the passcodes of current users. However, consider changing your passcode as an additional security measure.
- If applicable, AT&T will pay for credit monitoring services. Consider taking advantage of this offer to keep an eye on your credit reports.
- AT&T is conducting a robust investigation with cybersecurity experts. Stay informed about any further updates or actions they recommend.
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