New York – The recent discovery of a data breach affecting millions of current and former AT&T customers has raised concerns about the security of personal information online. The telecommunications company announced on Saturday that a dataset containing sensitive data, including Social Security numbers and passcodes, was found on the “dark web.” The breach impacted approximately 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders.
AT&T, based in Dallas, stated that it is still unclear whether the data originated from the company or one of its vendors. An investigation into the incident has been initiated, and affected customers are being notified of the breach. The company revealed that the compromised information may include full names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and AT&T account numbers. The data in question dates back to 2019 or earlier and does not appear to include financial information or call history.
Customers impacted by the breach can expect to receive notifications either via email or letter directly from AT&T. The company has already reset the passcodes of current users and intends to provide credit monitoring services where applicable. AT&T has also enlisted the help of internal and external cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
While this breach is alarming, AT&T has encountered similar incidents in the past. Cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt highlighted similarities between the recent breach and a previous one in 2021, which the company did not acknowledge. Hunt warned of potential class action lawsuits if impacted customers are not promptly notified. AT&T declined to comment further on these similarities when questioned by reporters.
To protect themselves from potential data breaches, consumers are advised to create strong passwords, utilize multifactor authentication whenever possible, and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. Additionally, setting up free credit freezes and fraud alerts with nationwide credit bureaus can help safeguard against identity theft and malicious activity. In a digitally driven world, being proactive and vigilant is crucial in safeguarding personal information from cyber threats.