Our data is contently being stolen as well as used by Intel against us all. One can never tell if these breaches are real or just a smokescreen for something else.
AT&T has confirmed a massive data breach affecting nearly all of its cellular customers. If you were an AT&T customer between May 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022, your data may have been compromised. The breach also includes records from January 2, 2023, for a small number of customers.
The FCC says it’s investigating a massive hack of AT&T customer data that included records of calls and texts for nearly all of its mobile-phone users for a 6-month period in 2022, one of the biggest breaches of private communications data in recent memory https://t.co/nihknmQgv5 pic.twitter.com/Mb6G2xNH6i
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) July 12, 2024
To determine if your data was affected, AT&T advises customers to log into their accounts. Upon logging in, customers can see if their data was impacted and request a detailed report of the compromised technical information. AT&T spokespersons have assured that the company will notify affected customers via text, email, or U.S. mail.
Despite the severity of the breach, AT&T is not offering identity theft protection to customers at this time. For more information, customers can visit att.com/DataIncident.
The breach involved records of calls and texts for AT&T customers, but crucially did not include the content of these communications or any personal information such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, or other personally identifiable data.
Here’s how to learn if your data was stolen in AT&T’s massive hack: AT&T said it learned about the hack in April, but it delayed alerting customers due to federal investigations. Here’s what to know. https://t.co/471PkwxABg pic.twitter.com/wSVtNoi7MA
— JPNWMN (@JPNWMN) July 12, 2024
Under U.S. securities regulations, companies are required to disclose data breaches within 30 days of discovering the security issue. AT&T learned of the hack in April but delayed informing customers due to coordination with federal agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI. These agencies determined that immediate disclosure could pose security risks.
According to Patrick Schaumont, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the breach is considered a national security concern because the call logs can reveal the social and professional networks of individuals, especially those with roles relevant to national security. This heightened the importance of keeping the breach confidential until now.
AT&T confirms massive hack of customer’s calls and textshttps://t.co/LVBFOlP4bN pic.twitter.com/FKJ2ewYGXi
— Mirror Breaking News (@MirrorBreaking_) July 12, 2024
AT&T has not disclosed the identity of the hacker or hackers responsible for the breach. However, it has been reported that one individual has been apprehended in connection with the incident.
Major Points:
- AT&T Data Breach: Nearly all cellular customers’ records were compromised between May 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022.
- Checking for Impact: Customers can log into their accounts to see if their data was affected and request detailed reports.
- Nature of Data: Compromised data includes call and text records but excludes content and personal identifiable information.
- Notification Delay: Disclosure was delayed due to national security concerns and coordination with the Department of Justice and the FBI.
- Ongoing Investigation: One individual has been apprehended in connection with the breach; further details are yet to be disclosed.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
