AT&T has announced that the company believes a hacker stole records of calls and texts from nearly all of AT&T’s wireless customers, according to a financial filing from the company.
“The data does not contain the content of calls or texts, personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information,” AT&T said in their statement released early Friday morning. “These records identify the telephone numbers with which an AT&T or MVNO wireless number interacted during these periods, including telephone numbers of AT&T wireline customers and customers of other carriers, counts of those interactions, and aggregate call duration for a day or month.”
AT&T says it has taken “additional cybersecurity measures” in response to this incident including closing off the point of unlawful access.
AT&T confirmed that it will provide notice to its current and former impacted customers.
The exterior of an AT&T store photographed on Nov. 30, 2022 in Miami.
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images, FILE
“AT&T is working with law enforcement in its efforts to arrest those involved in the incident,” the company said. “Based on information available to AT&T, it understands that at least one person has been apprehended. As of the date of this filing, AT&T does not believe that the data is publicly available.”
AT&T says the incident has not had a “material impact on AT&T’s operations,” and AT&T does not believe that the incident is “reasonably likely to materially impact AT&T’s financial condition or results of operations.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
AT&T, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States, recently announced that a hacker managed to gain unauthorized access to the personal information of “nearly all” of its wireless customers. The breach, which occurred between April 9 and April 21, 2021, is believed to have exposed a wide range of sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and other personal information.
According to AT&T, the hacker was able to access this information through an employee’s credentials, which were used to access customer accounts. The company has since taken steps to secure the affected accounts and is working with law enforcement to investigate the breach.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age. With more and more of our personal information stored online, hackers are constantly looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in systems and gain access to sensitive data. In this case, the breach highlights the need for companies like AT&T to have robust security measures in place to protect their customers’ information.
In response to the breach, AT&T has stated that it will be offering free credit monitoring services to affected customers and has urged them to remain vigilant and monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity. The company has also advised customers to change their passwords and enable two-factor authentication on their accounts for added security.
While AT&T has not disclosed the exact number of customers affected by the breach, the sheer scale of the incident is cause for concern. It serves as a reminder that no company is immune to cyber attacks and that both businesses and individuals must take steps to protect their data from falling into the wrong hands.
As technology continues to advance, so too do the tactics of hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities in systems. It is essential for companies to invest in robust cybersecurity measures and for individuals to remain vigilant in protecting their personal information online. Only by working together can we hope to prevent future breaches and safeguard our data from malicious actors.
