AT&T Discloses Significant Data Breach: 109 Million US Customer Accounts Affected
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Quick Read
- AT&T experiences a significant data breach, affecting 109 million customer accounts in the United States.
- The data that has been compromised includes call and text records from the year 2022.
- The FBI and the US Federal Communications Commission are conducting an investigation.
- The security breach came after a ransomware attack on UnitedHealth Group in February.
- AT&T has blocked the route of unauthorized access.
AT&T Data Breach: Current Information and Insights
The American telecommunications behemoth AT&T has disclosed a major data breach affecting the call and text records of approximately 109 million US customer accounts. This breach took place in April when the data was unlawfully extracted from a third-party cloud service.
Extent of the Violation
The breached data encompasses call and text records from May to October 2022 for virtually all AT&T cellular and landline clients. It’s essential to clarify that the content of these calls and texts, as well as personal details like social security numbers, were not part of the compromised information. Additionally, the records involve interactions from AT&T customers of mobile virtual network operators using AT&T’s wireless network.
Ongoing Investigations
The FBI is presently examining the breach, and at least one person has been detained. The US Federal Communications Commission is also conducting an investigation. The FBI and the US Justice Department cooperated with AT&T to handle the incident-response and exchange essential threat intelligence.
Delayed Public Disclosure
The US Justice Department requested a delay in the public announcement of the hack. AT&T discovered the breach on April 19, following claims by a hacker that they had illegally obtained and duplicated AT&T’s call logs from April 14 to April 25.
Previous Data Incidents
This breach is the most recent in a string of major cyber-attacks impacting a large number of Americans. In February, UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare division experienced a ransomware attack that may have compromised the personal information of a third of the US population. Moreover, in March, AT&T looked into a data set that was released on the dark web, seemingly impacting about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. This data set appeared to originate from 2019 or earlier.
Potential Consequences and Future Actions
Although AT&T has sealed the breach of unauthorized access and does not think the data is accessible to the public, the company is still collaborating closely with federal investigators to ensure the ongoing security and privacy of its customers’ information.
Summary
The AT&T data breach has impacted about 109 million US customer accounts, revealing call and text records from 2022. The FBI and other federal agencies are currently investigating the incident, and AT&T has secured the breach’s source. This occurrence highlights the increasing necessity for strong cybersecurity measures to protect consumer data.
Q&A
Q: What type of information was affected in the AT&T security breach?
A:
The breached data encompasses records of calls and texts from May to October 2022 for almost all AT&T cellular and landline users. Nevertheless, it excludes the content of calls or texts and personal details such as social security numbers.
Who is currently looking into the AT&T data breach?
A:
The breach is being investigated by both the FBI and the US Federal Communications Commission. At least one person has been arrested in relation to the incident.
When did AT&T become aware of the breach?
A:
AT&T initially discovered the breach on April 19, when a hacker asserted that they had illicitly accessed and duplicated AT&T’s call logs from April 14 to April 25.
Q: Has AT&T implemented any measures to avoid future security breaches?
A:
Indeed, AT&T has addressed the point of unauthorized access and is collaborating closely with federal investigators to improve its cybersecurity protocols and safeguard customer information in the future.
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