(LibertySociety.com) – With most of the world running everything from banking to water to energy online, the danger of cyberattacks only grows with time. These digital threats involve hackers who try to gain access to systems and information in order to cause mayhem for the victims. Recently, T-Mobile experienced a breach in its system — and it wasn’t the first time.
On January 19, wireless mobile telephone company T-Mobile announced that someone hacked their Application Programming Interface (API) and stole customer information in a breach. The company assured the public the individual wasn’t able to access the T-Mobile network at large or its systems, so client accounts and financial data are safe. The business also notified the Securities and Exchange Commission of the breach.
T-Mobile announces another data breach, impacting 37 million accounts https://t.co/7FE4BNdATb pic.twitter.com/eX4xktSHrM
— The Verge (@verge) January 20, 2023
According to T-Mobile, only basic information was taken, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. Perhaps more concerning was the fact the data also included birth dates, account numbers, and email addresses. While social security numbers can make it easy for hackers to steal people’s identities, bad actors can use email addresses and names to launch phishing expeditions to scam unsuspecting victims.
According to the New York Post, the breach happened back in November 2022, affecting 37 million customers, but it wasn’t discovered by T-Mobile until January 5. The news outlet noted the company said it notified proper law enforcement agencies about the issue.
Other breaches of T-Mobile’s systems reportedly happened in August 2018, November 2019, January 2021, and August 2021; the last of these apparently included social security numbers as well as driver’s license information. At the time, the phone carrier promised to fortify its system.
With the most recent occurrence, it’s unclear if the extra measures were successful. The breach in November 2022 didn’t reveal as much data as the August 2021 incident did, but it’s hard to say whether or not that was due to increased security measures. In the company’s January 19 announcement, there was mention of more upcoming investments in cybersecurity programs.
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