13 Jul AT&T Data Breach Poses Phishing Attack Risk To Consumers
in Blogs
This week in cybersecurity from the editors at Cybercrime Magazine
– Read the Full Newsday Story
Sausalito, Calif. – Jul. 13, 2024
Newsday reports that AT&T disclosed Jul. 12 that nearly all its customers were affected by a data breach that exposed call and text message records from a six-month stretch in 2022.
The Dallas-based company said it discovered the breach in April. The data includes the phone numbers that customers called or texted but not the content of calls or text messages, Social Security numbers, dates of birth or other personally identifiable information.
AT&T said the breach also did not include customers’ names but it cautioned that publicly available online tools can identify names associated with phone numbers.
Just because the breach doesn’t include information such as credit card numbers doesn’t mean the data won’t be used maliciously, said Steve Morgan, founder of Northport-based Cybersecurity Ventures and publisher of Cybercrime Magazine.
“It’s a myth that if a breach only contains email addresses or cell phone numbers, but no other sensitive info, i.e. credit card numbers, etc., then there’s no risk,” Morgan said. “On the contrary, the reality is that cybercriminals crave and use emails and cell numbers to launch mass phishing attacks with customized subject lines and messages to unsuspecting victims.”
Morgan added that all AT&T customers should change their passwords and enable multifactor authentication.
Read the Full Story
Cybercrime Magazine is Page ONE for Cybersecurity. Go to any of our sections to read the latest:
- SCAM. The latest schemes, frauds, and social engineering attacks being launched on consumers globally.
- NEWS. Breaking coverage on cyberattacks and data breaches, and the most recent privacy and security stories.
- HACK. Another organization gets hacked every day. We tell you who, what, where, when, and why.
- VC. Cybersecurity venture capital deal flow with the latest investment activity from various sources around the world.
- M&A. Cybersecurity mergers and acquisitions including big tech, pure cyber, product vendors and professional services.
- BLOG. What’s happening at Cybercrime Magazine. Plus the stories that don’t make headlines (but maybe they should).
- PRESS. Cybersecurity industry news and press releases in real time from the editors at Business Wire.
- PODCAST. New episodes daily on the Cybercrime Magazine Podcast feature victims, law enforcement, vendors, and cybersecurity experts.
- RADIO. Tune into WCYB Digital Radio at Cybercrime.Radio, the first and only round-the-clock internet radio station devoted to cybersecurity.
Contact us to send story tips, feedback and suggestions, and for sponsorship opportunities and custom media productions.