T-Mobile Breached - 40 Million Customers Affected

Dismas · 08-18-2021, 04:23 PM

Looks like the "un-carrier" has been breached, with 40 million customers and prospective customers being affected. Pretty bad, considering SSNs were involved.

Quote:T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS.O) said on Wednesday an investigation into a data breach revealed that personal data, including social security numbers and driver's license information, of more than 40 million former and prospective customers was stolen.

The stolen files also included data from 7.8 million existing T-Mobile wireless customers.

Dates of birth, first and last names were also stolen, the telecom services provider said, adding there was no indication of their financial details being compromised.

The company, which had 104.8 million customers as of June, acknowledged the data breach on Sunday after U.S.-based digital media outlet Vice first reported that a seller had posted on an underground forum offering for sale some private data, including social security numbers from a breach at T-Mobile servers.

Read More: https://www.reuters.com/technology/hacke...021-08-18/

Marshland · 08-18-2021, 10:14 PM

Why does Tmobile even need social security numbers and drivers' licenses? Is that an US thing?

Dismas · 08-18-2021, 10:29 PM

(08-18-2021, 10:14 PM)Marshland Wrote: Why does Tmobile even need social security numbers and drivers' licenses? Is that an US thing?

They have to check your credit history for certain things. For example, if you're getting a new phone (i.e. monthly installments) they need to know your credit isn't terrible.

Marshland · 08-18-2021, 10:39 PM

(08-18-2021, 10:29 PM)Dismas Wrote:
(08-18-2021, 10:14 PM)Marshland Wrote: Why does Tmobile even need social security numbers and drivers' licenses? Is that an US thing?

They have to check your credit history for certain things. For example, if you're getting a new phone (i.e. monthly installments) they need to know your credit isn't terrible.

Ah that makes sense. You'd think that they would at least obscure or encrypt those sensitive documents..

mothered · 08-19-2021, 05:31 AM

(08-18-2021, 10:39 PM)Marshland Wrote: You'd think that they would at least obscure or encrypt those sensitive documents..

I'd say they most likely will after this breach, but It's of little comfort to users who've had their credentials compromised.

Accident Man · 08-19-2021, 06:47 PM

This just seems homogeneous to a conventional occurrence with tech companies. From Facebook to Twitter, to mobile companies, etc. Nothing we do is private anymore. From big tech spying on us to hackers purloining data.

mothered · 08-20-2021, 05:11 AM

(08-19-2021, 06:47 PM)Party Pete Wrote: Nothing we do is private anymore.

It never was to begin with.

Marshland · 08-21-2021, 03:27 PM

Apparently its 53 million instead 40 million..
https://www.reuters.com/technology/t-mob...021-08-20/

Her_pop · 10-07-2021, 02:22 PM

What legal issues will they face?