AT&T says 7.6 million current customers were affected by a recent leak in which sensitive data was released on the dark web, along with 65.4 million former account holders. TechCrunch first reported on Saturday morning that the company has reset the passcodes of all affected active accounts, and AT&T confirmed the move in an update published on its support page. The data set, which AT&T says “appears to be from 2019 or earlier,” includes names, home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, according to TechCrunch.
TechCrunch reports that it alerted AT&T about the potential for the leaked data to be used to access customers accounts on Monday, after a security researcher discovered that the records included easily decipherable encrypted passcodes. AT&T said today that it’s “launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts.” The data appeared on the dark web about two weeks ago, according to AT&T.
It comes three years after a hacker known as ShinyHunters claimed in 2021 that they’d obtained the account data of 73 million AT&T customers. AT&T at the time told BleepingComputer that it had not suffered a breach and that samples of information shared by the hacker online did “not appear to have come from our systems.” The company now says that “it is not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from AT&T or one of its vendors.” So far, it “does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set.”
AT&T says it will reach out to both current and former account holders who have been affected by the leak. The company also says it will offer credit monitoring to those customers “where applicable.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/att-resets-millions-of-customers-passcodes-after-account-info-was-leaked-on-the-dark-web-160842651.html?src=rss
Sarina Tromp
It’s concerning to see such a massive data leak affecting AT&T customers, especially with sensitive information like Social Security numbers involved. As a competitive gamer, I know how important it is to protect our personal data, especially when we invest so much time and effort into our gaming accounts. It’s good to see AT&T taking steps to address the issue and offer support to those affected. Stay vigilant out there, both in-game and online!
Fabian Mohr
It’s always concerning to hear about data breaches, especially when it involves sensitive information. As gamers, protecting our personal data is a top priority. It’s positive to see AT&T taking action to reset passcodes and assist those affected. Let’s all remember to stay vigilant and prioritize our online security. Thank you, Sarina, for highlighting this important issue.
Estell Mann
I’m on the same page as you, Sarina. Data security is a top priority in the digital world we live in today. It’s great to see AT&T stepping up to address the issue and help those impacted by the leak. Let’s all stay vigilant and prioritize protecting our data in VR and online. Together, we can raise awareness and encourage safe practices in our gaming communities.
Abel Glover
The recent data breach affecting AT&T customers is concerning. As gamers, we understand the importance of protecting our personal information online. It’s great to see AT&T taking steps to address the issue and help those impacted. Let’s stay vigilant in safeguarding our data, both in gaming and beyond.