AT&T Data Breach: Personal Data of Millions Leaked to Dark Web
AT&T reports leakage of personal data from millions of account holders
AT&T, the Dallas-based telecommunications giant, revealed on Saturday that personal data from millions of current and former account holders has been compromised and leaked onto the dark web. According to AT&T, the data, believed to be from 2019 or earlier, was discovered on the dark web approximately two weeks ago. However, the exact source of the data breach has not yet been determined.
Officials at AT&T revealed that the leaked data includes information from approximately 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders, totaling around 73 million individuals. The company has assured that anyone affected by the breach will receive an email or letter notifying them of the incident.
Although AT&T claims that the leaked data does not involve personal financial information or call history, individuals are advised to remain cautious. The compromised information may consist of full names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and AT&T account numbers and passcodes.
AT&T has taken immediate action by resetting passcodes, urging all customers to change their passcode as a precaution. Additionally, the company has promised to offer complimentary identity theft and credit monitoring services to customers whose sensitive personal information has been compromised.
Advice for the affected individuals
AT&T has provided guidance on the necessary steps to be taken by individuals impacted by the data breach. It is recommended that affected individuals keep a close watch on their credit report and implement two-factor authentication across all their accounts to enhance their security. Andrew Sternke, CEO of Southlake-based DarkBox Security Systems, emphasized the need to monitor all accounts due to the significant amount of leaked personal information that could be used to create false identities.
Brett Callow, a threat analyst at cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, further suggested affected customers sign up for credit monitoring services if offered and consider putting a block on their credit to prevent fraudulent activities.
Similar incidents involving industry competitors
In recent years, AT&T’s major competitors have also fallen victim to significant data breaches.
Last year, T-Mobile acknowledged that personal data from 37 million customers had been accessed by a “bad actor.” In a separate incident, the company settled a class-action lawsuit, stemming from a data breach that affected a little over 40 million people, by agreeing to pay $350 million.
Similarly, Verizon, another industry player, faced data breaches in the past. In 2017, at least 6 million customers were affected. However, Verizon maintained that none of the compromised information had fallen into the wrong hands.
While AT&T officials have not confirmed whether the current data breach is linked to a previous incident, it underscores the importance of constant vigilance in safeguarding personal information.
