{"id":71975,"date":"2024-07-13T14:00:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/39b5795ea3791024f16caa3b9ade3417"},"modified":"2024-07-13T14:00:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T14:00:22","slug":"heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers\/","title":{"rendered":"Here&#8217;s what ruthless hackers stole from 110M AT&amp;T customers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"article-gating gated-overlay show-gate\" readability=\"24.90543071161\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-wrapper\" readability=\"28.62265917603\">\n<p>Join Fox News for access to this content<\/p>\n<p>You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal tablet-desktop\" readability=\"21.43949044586\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <span class=\"waslinkname\">Terms of Use<\/span> and <span class=\"waslinkname\">Privacy Policy<\/span>, which includes our <span class=\"waslinkname\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/span>. <\/div>\n<p><span>Please enter a valid email address.<\/span><\/p>\n<footer class=\"article-gating-footer\"><span class=\"waslinkname\">Having trouble? Click here.<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">In a startling revelation, <span class=\"waslinkname\">AT&amp;T announced<\/span> that it had suffered a significant data breach affecting &#8220;nearly all&#8221; of its cellular customers, as well as customers of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) using AT&amp;T&#8217;s wireless network and some landline customers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">The data that was taken was from May 1 through Oct. 31, 2022, with a small number of additional records from Jan. 2, 2023, which has raised serious concerns about customer <span class=\"waslinkname\">privacy and data security<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/1-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers.jpg\" alt=\"hacker\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><span>Image of cybersecurity prevention expert at work.<\/span> <span>(AT&amp;T)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Scope of the breach<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The compromised data includes records of calls and text messages, along with phone numbers that AT&amp;T or MVNO cellular numbers interacted with during the specified period. For some records, cell site identification numbers were also exposed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>AT&amp;T emphasized that <span class=\"waslinkname\">the breach<\/span> did not include the content of calls or texts, personal information like Social Security numbers or dates of birth, or specific timestamps of communications.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS \u2014 SIGN UP FOR KURT\u2019S NEWSLETTER \u2014 THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/2-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers-1.jpg\" alt=\"cybercriminal\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><span>Illustration of cybercriminal at work.<\/span> <span>(Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Cybercriminals target cloud platform<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>AT&amp;T disclosed that the data was illegally downloaded from their workspace on a third-party cloud platform. The company has since taken steps to close off the illegal access point and is working with law enforcement to apprehend those responsible. At least one person has reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/3-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers-2.jpg\" alt=\"cybercriminal on laptop\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><span>Illustration of cybercriminal at work.<\/span> <span>(Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>BEWARE OF ENCRYPTED PDFS AS THE LATEST TRICK TO DELIVER MALWARE TO YOU<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>AT&amp;T&#8217;s customer notification and response<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>AT&amp;T plans to notify approximately 110 million current and former customers whose information was involved in the breach. The company has <span class=\"waslinkname\">created a website<\/span> to provide more information and resources for affected customers.<\/p>\n<p>We reached out to AT&amp;T, and a company spokesperson provided us with this statement:<\/p>\n<p><i>&#8220;At this time, we do not believe that the data is publicly available. Our top priority, as always, is our customers. We will provide notice to current and former customers whose information was involved along with resources to help protect their information. We sincerely regret this incident occurred and remain committed to protecting the information in our care.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Delayed disclosure and national security concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Interestingly, AT&amp;T, in cooperation with the FBI and the Department of Justice, delayed notifying the public about the breach on two occasions, citing &#8220;potential risks to national security and\/or public safety.&#8221; For its part, AT&amp;T explained that the delayed disclosure was a result of its ongoing collaboration with law enforcement during their investigation into the breach. This decision highlights the complex interplay between corporate responsibility, law enforcement, and national security considerations in cybersecurity incidents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/4-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers-3.jpg\" alt=\"AT&amp;T logo\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>AT&amp;T ad.<\/span> <span>(AT&amp;T)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Recent history of AT&amp;T data breaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This incident marks the <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>second significant security breach for AT&amp;T<\/u><\/span> in 2024. In March, the company was forced to reset the account passcodes of approximately 7.6 million customers after a cache of customer account information, including encrypted passcodes, was published on a cybercrime forum.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>AT&amp;T took this precautionary action after a security researcher warned that the encrypted passcodes could be easily decrypted, potentially compromising customer accounts. This earlier breach affected roughly 70 million past or present customers and reportedly included sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and full names.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/5-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers-4.jpg\" alt=\"hacker with hood \" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><span>Illustration of cybercriminal at work.<\/span> <span>(Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Broader implications for data security<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This latest incident is part of a larger trend of data breaches targeting cloud platforms. AT&amp;T&#8217;s breach has been linked to a series of data thefts from Snowflake, a cloud data giant, which has affected several other companies as well. The breach underscores the ongoing challenges in securing sensitive data stored in cloud environments and the need for robust cybersecurity measures.<\/p>\n<p>As investigations continue and more details emerge, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threats to data security in our increasingly connected world. It also raises questions about the adequacy of current data protection practices and the need for stronger regulations to safeguard consumer information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET<\/u><\/strong><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/6-Heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-130-Million-ATT-customers-.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heres-what-ruthless-hackers-stole-from-110m-att-customers-5.jpg\" alt=\"security\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><span>Image emphasizing security.<\/span> <span>(Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>26 BILLION REASONS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AFTER A MASSIVE DATA LEAK IS EXPOSED&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to protect yourself from threats targeting you<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You should take immediate action to minimize the damage. Here are some steps that you can follow:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Change your passwords<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If hackers have recorded your passwords, they could access your online accounts and steal your data or money. ON ANOTHER DEVICE (i.e., your laptop or desktop), you should change your passwords for all your important accounts, such as email, banking, social media, etc. You want to do this on another device so that the hacker isn\u2019t recording you setting up your new password on your hacked device. And you should also use strong and unique passwords that are hard to guess or crack. You can also use a <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>password manager<\/u><\/span> to generate and store your passwords securely.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Enable two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You\u2019ll want to activate <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>two-factor authentication<\/u><\/span> for an extra layer of security.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Monitor your accounts and transactions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You should check your online accounts and transactions regularly for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. If you notice anything unusual, immediately report it to the service provider or authorities. You should also review your credit reports and scores to see if there are any signs of identity theft or fraud.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Contact your bank and credit card companies<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If hackers have obtained your bank or credit card information, they could use it to make purchases or withdrawals without your consent. You should inform your bank and credit card companies of the situation. They can help you freeze or cancel your cards, dispute any fraudulent charges and issue new cards for you.<\/p>\n<p>You should also contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert to be placed on your credit file. This will make it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name without verification. You can even freeze your credit, if need be.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Invest in personal data removal services<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is invaluable, especially after a data breach. These services can help you mitigate the potential damage by ensuring your compromised information is continuously monitored and systematically removed from hundreds of sites. This ongoing process reduces the risk of identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities, providing an additional layer of security and peace of mind. <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>Remove your personal data from the internet with my top picks here.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. Use identity theft protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Identity Theft protection companies can monitor personal information like your home title, Social Security number (SSN), phone number and email address and alert you if it is being used to open an account.&nbsp;They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One of the best parts of using an identity theft protection company is that it could include identity theft insurance of up to <strong>$1 million to cover losses and legal fees<\/strong> and a <strong>white-glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager<\/strong> helps you recover any losses. <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft<\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Alert your contacts<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If hackers have accessed your email or social media accounts, they could use them to send spam or <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>phishing messages<\/u><\/span> to your contacts. They could also impersonate you and ask for money or personal information. You should alert your contacts and warn them not to open or respond to any messages from you that seem suspicious or unusual.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IS HACKED<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Kurt&#8217;s key takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The AT&amp;T data breach is another wake-up call for consumers and corporations in our digital age. It underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures, particularly in cloud-based systems where vast amounts of sensitive data are stored. As technology evolves, so too must our approach to data protection. This incident should prompt a broader discussion about the balance between technological advancement, user privacy and national security.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also another reminder that we cannot rely on others and need to make ourselves resilient against attacks that are only getting more frequent and destructive. If you do not use tools to <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>enhance your privacy and security, including strong antivirus protection<\/u><\/span> on your iPhone, Android, PC and Mac, use a <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>VPN to insulate your privacy<\/u><\/span>, and actively remove your personal data from the internet, then you are asking for trouble.<\/p>\n<p>In light of this breach, what measures do you think telecom companies should implement to better protect customer data? Should we have been notified of this huge breach earlier than 3 months after the fact?&nbsp; Let us know by writing us at<strong> <\/strong><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>Cyberguy.com\/Contact<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>For more of my tech tips &amp; security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to <span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>Cyberguy.com\/Newsletter<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you&#8217;d like us to cover<\/u><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow Kurt on his social channels:<\/p>\n<p>Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.&nbsp;All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Fox News for access to this content You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading. 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