US telecom giant AT&T is investigating a significant data breach on the dark web that could affect up to 73 million individuals. The company disclosed on Saturday that the leaked data set, discovered about two weeks ago, includes information from around 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. The data appears to date back to 2019 or earlier.
AT&T’s preliminary findings suggest that the data set may have impacted millions of users, though there is currently no evidence of unauthorized access to its internal systems. The company is uncertain whether the leaked information originated directly from AT&T or one of its vendors.
While the investigation is ongoing, AT&T has taken immediate steps to mitigate potential damage. The telecom giant has reset passcodes for the 7.6 million current customers affected by the leak and is offering credit monitoring services to those impacted. AT&T emphasized that the breach has not had a material impact on its operations.
This data leak raises serious concerns about user privacy and data security in the United States. The potential exposure of sensitive information underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and vigilant monitoring of third-party vendors.
This breach follows a service outage in February that disrupted services for thousands of US users and led to federal investigations. AT&T is in contact with all affected individuals to provide support and ensure their data is protected moving forward.
