Personal data of millions of current and former AT&T customers has been compromised, including sensitive information such as addresses, social security numbers, and passcodes. The telecommunications giant has confirmed the breach and initiated measures to address the situation.
Customer Data of Millions of AT&T Users Leaked
According to a report from BBC, the leaked data involves approximately 73 million individuals, comprising 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. The breach, which appears to have occurred in 2019 or earlier, also includes details like full names, email addresses, and dates of birth.
AT&T has taken immediate action by resetting the passcodes of current users and has started notifying affected customers. However, the company has not identified evidence indicating how the data was stolen.
"AT&T has determined that AT&T data-specific fields were contained in a data set released on the dark web. While AT&T has made this determination, it is not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from AT&T or one of its vendors," the company said in an announcement.
AT&T Customers Alerted
While the compromised data does not contain financial information or call history, the exposure of personal details raises concerns about potential misuse and identity theft. AT&T urges affected customers to remain vigilant by monitoring their account activity and credit reports.
In addition to the data breach, AT&T has faced other challenges this year, including a major outage in February that disrupted cellphone service for thousands of users across the United States. The company attributed the outage to a technical coding error rather than a malicious attack.
(Photo : PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
Millions of AT&T customers' personal data compromised, including addresses and social security numbers. AT&T confirms breach, initiates measures to address.
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In response to the breach, AT&T issued a statement reassuring customers of its commitment to cybersecurity and data protection. The company has engaged external cybersecurity experts to investigate the matter further.
Customers are encouraged to take proactive steps to safeguard their personal information, including setting up free fraud alerts with credit bureaus and regularly reviewing their credit reports. AT&T has provided resources for customers to monitor their accounts and report any suspicious activity.
With millions of individuals affected by the data breach, AT&T faces significant challenges in restoring trust and ensuring the security of its customers' data. Cybersecurity experts warn of potential legal repercussions, including class-action lawsuits if the company mishandled the situation.
AT&T's wireless 5G network is used by roughly 290 million people in the United States, and the company is one of the country's major mobile and internet service providers.
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