Targeting large groups of people through phishing or email spam is a typical way cybercriminals make money. But some people take it up a notch and leave behind a huge database with millions of user records.
Over the past decade, many companies have fallen victim to carefully planned attacks. Hackers sometimes have access to millions of personal information files. They use the stolen data to dupe people by committing identity fraud and many other nefarious acts.
T-Mobile recently faced such a data breach. The mobile service provider’s own investigation revealed that 48 million customer records were stolen. Now, while there is a vehement denial, there are rumors that AT&T was also breached.
Here’s the backstory
A well-known hacker is selling the data of more than 70 million AT&T customers, according to online privacy advocacy group Restore Privacy. A hacker named Shinyhunters has claimed to have broken into the company’s servers. As proof he posted a small piece of evidence.
Restore Privacy This independently verified data sample is, in fact, legitimate information from AT&T customers. The data includes names, phone numbers, physical addresses, email addresses, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. This is all the information a scammer needs to commit identity fraud.
how to protect yourself
Full disclosure, T-Mobile is a sponsor of The Kim Komando Show. The company reset the PINs of its customers following the recent data breach report. But no matter which mobile provider you have, it is a good idea to secure your account with a PIN code. This way.
Since cybercriminals are targeting mobile providers and their customers, it is important to have a PIN to protect your account. If you don’t have one, be sure to set one up ASAP. Don’t forget to share this article with friends and family so they can protect their mobile accounts.
