In its announcement about the data breach, AT&T said the datasets found on the dark web included information such as Social Security numbers and passwords for approximately 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. said that he had done so.
The company said the affected data dates back to before 2019 and does not appear to include financial information or call history. P.A.
AT&T, one of the largest telecommunications carriers in the United States, recently suffered a data breach that affected millions of current and former customers. The data leaked on the dark web belongs to 73 million current or former AT&T customers and includes addresses, Social Security numbers and passwords, the company announced Saturday.
AT&T has yet to find evidence of data theft and has brought in cybersecurity experts to investigate. AT&T said the cause of the security breach is unknown at this time.
The Dallas-based company said AT&T has begun notifying customers whose personal information was compromised, but it remains unclear "whether the data came from AT&T or its vendor."
What information was leaked in this hack?
AT&T claims that the information involved in the breach includes Social Security numbers and passwords, although these vary for each customer and account. Unlike a password, a PIN is typically a four-digit number. Names, email addresses, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and AT&T account numbers may also have been compromised. The company said the affected data dates back to before 2019 and does not appear to include financial information or call history.
How do I know if I have been injured?
Consumers affected by this breach should receive an email or letter directly from AT&T regarding this incident. An AT&T spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that email notifications began going out on Saturday.
What action did AT&T take?
In addition to these notifications, AT&T said it has already reset passwords for current users. The company added that it will pay for credit monitoring services where applicable. AT&T also said it has "launched a thorough investigation" involving internal and external cybersecurity experts to further investigate the situation.
Has AT&T experienced a data breach like this before? AT&T has seen multiple data breaches over the years, varying in size and impact.
The company says details of this latest breach were revealed on a hacking forum nearly two weeks ago, but they are very similar to a similar breach that surfaced in 2021 but was not acknowledged by AT&T. researcher Troy Hunt told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Mr Hunt, founder of an Australia-based website that warns people, said: "If a company evaluates this and comes to the wrong conclusion and fails to notify affected customers for years, then the company is close to... There is a high possibility that we will face a class action lawsuit." information is revealed
Asked about the similarities Sunday, an AT&T spokesperson declined further comment.
How can I protect myself in the future?
While data breaches may be difficult to completely avoid in an ever-digital world, there are steps consumers can take to protect themselves in the future.
The basics include creating passwords that are difficult to guess and using multi-factor authentication whenever possible. If you receive a hack notification, we recommend changing your password and monitoring your account activity for suspicious transactions. Also, visit the company's official website to obtain reliable contact information, as scammers may take advantage of news such as data breaches to gain trust through phishing emails or similar phone calls.
is needed. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission has announced that national credit bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion offer free credit freezes that consumers can place to protect themselves from identity theft and other malicious activity. It points out that it offers fraud alerts.