AT&T Issues Security Warning: ‘Take Action’

Security experts are urging AT&T customers to beef up their online security measures following a substantial data breach that has put the personal information of approximately 86 million customers at risk. The breach, initially reported in early 2024, resurfaced when cybercriminals appeared to sell the stolen database on illicit Russian hacking forums.

AT&T Data Breach

The American Cyber Defense Agency had previously confirmed the breach, warning that sensitive customer information, including names, email addresses, phone numbers and, notably, nearly 44 million Social Security numbers, had been compromised. This alarming revelation has heightened concerns about identity theft amid a landscape marked by an increasing number of cyberattacks. Jasdev Dhaliwal, a consumer security expert at McAfee, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “If you’re an AT&T customer, now’s the time to take action. A previously reported data breach has exposed personal information from millions of accounts — and that data is reportedly up for sale on underground hacking forums.” The stakes are particularly high, as identity thieves could leverage this information to wreak havoc on unsuspecting victims’ lives.

AT&T Hacking Confirmed

The issue arose when reports emerged linking the online distribution of the database to the earlier breach. AT&T confirmed the validity of these claims, noting that this reemergence of their customers’ data necessitated immediate attention. A representative from AT&T explained, “After analysis by our internal teams as well as external data consultants, we are confident this is repackaged data previously released on the dark web in March 2024. Affected customers were notified at that time. We have notified law enforcement of this latest development.”

Cybercriminals

According to several tech experts, this is not just another data breach; it reflects the growing trend of cybercriminals capitalizing on vulnerable individuals during a time of heightened digital dependence. One expert claimed, “In a world where the majority of financial transactions and personal communications occur online, the ramifications of such security failures can be catastrophic.”

Expert Advice

Dhaliwal urges customers to conduct regular checks on their credit reports for any unfamiliar accounts or suspicious activities. “Be vigilant,” he advises. “It’s crucial to change the password for your AT&T account to something different, and consider using identity theft protection services.” Prominent cybersecurity expert Steve Weisman, who authors the Scamicide newsletter, also weighed in on the situation, emphasizing that one crucial step for safeguarding oneself in the wake of unfortunate leaks is to protect the Social Security number at all costs. “Anyone can get scammed, and your Social Security number can be obtained by identity thieves in a multitude of ways, including data breaches,” Weisman cautions. He further recommends that individuals obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the IRS each year to safeguard against identity theft related to tax returns.

The post AT&T Issues Security Warning: ‘Take Action’ appeared first on Knewz.