Millions Affected by AT&T Data Breach: What You Need to Know
Millions Affected by AT&T Data Breach: What You Need to Know
If you’re an AT&T customer, you might want to check your mailbox – or your email – because you could be one of the millions impacted by a recent data breach. Here’s the breakdown and what AT&T is doing to help.
What Happened?
Reports surfaced in early 2024 that a massive data leak exposed personal information of millions of current and former AT&T customers. The data included details like names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and for some, even Social Security numbers. This is a serious issue, as this information could be used for identity theft or fraud.
Who Was Affected?
AT&T initially downplayed the breach, but later confirmed that over 73 million customers were impacted. This includes both current and former subscribers, with estimates suggesting around 7.6 million active accounts were affected.
What’s AT&T Doing About It?
While we can’t undo the breach itself, AT&T has taken some steps to help affected customers:
- Free Credit Monitoring: AT&T is offering one year of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through Experian’s IdentityWorks. This service will monitor your credit report for suspicious activity and help you recover if you become a victim of identity theft.
- Million-Dollar Insurance: IdentityWorks also includes an insurance policy with up to $1 million in coverage for losses due to identity theft.
- Identity Restoration: AT&T is providing access to an identity restoration team to guide victims through the recovery process, should they fall prey to identity theft.
- Password Resets: AT&T has also reset passcodes for potentially compromised accounts as an extra layer of security.
What You Should Do
Even if you haven’t received a notification from AT&T, it’s wise to take precautions:
- Change Your Password: Create a strong, unique password for your AT&T account (and any other accounts that share the same password). Don’t reuse passwords across different platforms.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: If available, turn on multi-factor authentication for your AT&T account. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification code when logging in.
- Monitor Your Credit Report: Keep an eye on your credit report for suspicious activity. You can access free credit reports weekly from AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Report Identity Theft: If you suspect you’ve been a victim of identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov.
Stay Vigilant
Data breaches are unfortunately becoming all too common. By following these steps and staying informed, you can minimize the risk of identity theft and protect your personal information.
For more information on the AT&T data breach and how to protect yourself, you can visit the AT&T website or contact their customer service department.
