AT&T has launched an investigation into a recent breach that exposed millions of customers’ data, including sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, on the dark web.
The incident occurred approximately two weeks ago, prompting the company to initiate “a thorough investigation supported by both internal and external cybersecurity experts.”
“After conducting our initial analysis, it appears that the leaked data dates back to 2019 or earlier,” AT&T disclosed in a statement released on Saturday.
AT&T Launches Investigation into Leak Exposing Millions of Customers’ Data on Dark Web (Credits: ABC News)
The breach affects approximately 7.6 million existing customers and around 65.4 million former customers.
AT&T stated that it is currently examining whether the data fields in question originated from its own systems or from one of its vendors. Presently, the company has not found evidence of unauthorized access leading to the extraction of the dataset.
As part of its response, the telecommunications giant, known as one of the leading wireless carriers, has begun contacting affected customers and has taken steps to reset their passcodes. Additionally, it is offering complimentary credit monitoring services through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
“To date, this incident has not had a significant impact on AT&T’s operations,” the company assured.
