In a concerning development, AT&T, the US telecoms giant, is investigating a possible data breach after discovering that sensitive information, including addresses, social security numbers, and passcodes, had surfaced on the dark web. While no concrete evidence is yet to suggest that the data was stolen, the company has taken swift action by enlisting cybersecurity experts to delve deeper into the matter.
AT&T has taken precautionary measures by resetting customers’ passcodes as a safety measure. They have also urged their customers to remain vigilant, advising them to closely monitor their account activity and credit reports.
The data at risk is believed to be from 2019 or earlier, affecting a staggering 7.6 million customers and 65.4 million former account holders. Although AT&T has assured that no financial information has been compromised, details such as full names, email addresses, and dates of birth were potentially exposed.
While the source of the breach remains unclear, AT&T has stated that it could have originated from their systems or a third-party supplier. The company remains committed to addressing the situation and ensuring the security of its customers’ data.
AT&T is one of the largest mobile and internet service providers in the United States, with its wireless 5G network covering an extensive population of around 290 million people. Earlier this year, the company faced another setback when a significant outage disrupted phone services for thousands of users, prompting an apology and compensation offer.
Authorities in New York investigated that incident, which left customers unable to use their phones for approximately 12 hours.
