AT&T Data Breach Exposes Personal Information of 73 Million Customers to Dark Web

AT&T customers were shocked over the weekend to discover that their personal information may have been compromised in a massive data breach. This is the latest in a series of cyberattacks the company has faced, following a leak in January of 2023, which affected 9 million users. However, the most recent breach is on a much larger scale, impacting 73 million current and former AT&T account holders. The company has stated that it is conducting a thorough investigation into the origin of the breach, whether it came from AT&T or one of its vendors.

Extent of the Breach

According to AT&T, approximately 7.6 million current customers and 65.4 million former customers have been affected by the breach. The stolen data, which has surfaced on the dark web, includes sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, passcodes, full names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and AT&T account numbers. It is important to note that the compromised data is from 2019 or earlier and does not appear to include financial information or call history.

Customer Notification and Support

AT&T has taken steps to notify impacted customers directly via email or letter. The company has also proactively reset the passcodes of current users and will cover the costs of credit-monitoring services where applicable in order to safeguard customers' financial security.

Protecting Personal Information

Given the severity of the breach, customers are strongly advised to take immediate action to protect their personal information. This includes initiating a credit freeze at all three major credit agencies – Equifax, Experience, and TransUnion, as well as signing up for round-the-clock credit monitoring. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication on AT&T accounts is recommended as an extra layer of security.

If customers receive any notification about the breach, it is crucial to change their password and diligently monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission offers free credit freezes and fraud alerts to assist consumers in shielding themselves from identity theft and other malicious activities.