AT&T recently announced the discovery of a data breach that exposed sensitive information of millions of its current and former customers. The telecommunications company revealed that a dataset containing data, including Social Security numbers and passcodes, for approximately 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders was found on the dark web.
The origin of the data, whether from AT&T or one of its vendors, remains unknown, prompting the initiation of an investigation by the Dallas-based company. AT&T has taken steps to notify affected customers and is working to address the breach.
The compromised information varied for each customer but may have included Social Security numbers, passcodes, 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 involve financial information or call history.
Customers impacted by the breach can expect to receive direct communication from AT&T via email or letter. The company has already reset passcodes for current users and is offering credit monitoring services where applicable. Additionally, AT&T has launched a thorough investigation with internal and external cybersecurity experts to delve deeper into the incident.
While AT&T has experienced various data breaches in the past, this breach is significant due to the volume of compromised data. The company is working to address the situation and prevent further breaches in the future.
To protect themselves, consumers are advised to create strong passwords, enable multifactor authentication, and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. In the event of a breach notification, changing passwords promptly is recommended. Consumers should also be cautious of potential scams related to data breaches and verify contact information directly from a company's official website to avoid falling victim to phishing attempts.
For added protection, the Federal Trade Commission suggests utilizing free credit freezes and fraud alerts offered by major credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to safeguard against identity theft and malicious activities.
