AT&T confirms a significant data breach affecting both current and former customers, exposing personal information of over 7.6 million present clients and 65 million past ones.
AT&T confirms a significant data breach affecting both current and former customers, exposing personal information of over 7.6 million present clients and 65 million past ones. In response, the company has taken measures to safeguard affected active customers by resetting their security passcodes. The leaked data may encompass a wide array of sensitive details, including full names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, AT&T account numbers, and passcodes.
Prompt action is underway as AT&T initiates communication with impacted customers through email or traditional mail, providing insights into the compromised data and outlining the steps being taken to address the situation. Despite the initial reports surfacing in 2021, AT&T's acknowledgment of the authenticity of the leaked data came only after TechCrunch alerted the company about the vulnerability of its encrypted passcodes. The encryption method used for the passcodes was found to be susceptible to deciphering, heightening concerns regarding account security.
To assist customers in mitigating potential risks, AT&T recommends setting up free fraud alerts with major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. While the leaked data appears to originate from 2019 or earlier and does not include financial information or call history, AT&T is collaborating with external cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough analysis of the breach. At present, there is no evidence of unauthorized access to the company's systems, underscoring ongoing efforts to uphold data security and customer trust.
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