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Topics: Technology, News
Callum Jones
An urgent warning has been issued for a whopping 86 million mobile service customers to take action now amid the threat of hackers selling stolen data.
While we can all do everything we can to ensure our devices are as secure as they possibly can be, some hacks can be more complicated and put our personal information at risk.
Cybercriminals are seemingly using all the right tricks to take advantage of innocent web users, and AT&T customers at risk.
A ton of personal data from more than 86 million AT&T customers was leaked on the dark web and has reportedly been recently reposted.
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The personal information was posted to a Russian cybercrime forum earlier this month, leaving some customers worried about their sensitive data.
The files contain full names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
It's believed hackers gained access to AT&T's data last year by infiltrating accounts that lacked multi-factor authentication, so if you haven't set that up yet, then it's highly advised.
Addressing the data breach, an AT&T spokesperson told UNILAD: "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," they went on. "We have notified law enforcement of this latest development."
The spokesperson added that credit monitoring and identity theft protection was offered to customers whose sensitive personal information was compromised as part of the notice in 2024.
Whether you're a former or current AT&T customer, you can head to their site to check if your data was exposed.
Jasdev Dhaliwal, who is the Director of Marketing at McAfee, has urged current customers to take immediate action in the wake of the reports of the stolen data resurfacing.
He said: "If you're an AT&T customer, now's the time to take action. This data is already circulating, and it contains everything criminals need to impersonate you—your SSN, name, phone number, and more."
So, what can you do to help keep your personal details safe?
Well, fellow expert, Steve Weisman, has said it's a good idea to change your pin every year.
He told Newsweek: "Anyone can get scammed and your Social Security number can be obtained by identity thieves in a multitude of ways including data breaches.
"It is prudent to get a PIN each year from the IRS to include when you file your income tax return so that even if someone has your Social Security number, they won't be able to file a tax return in your name with your Social Security number that would be accepted."