AT&T dropped some big and very bad news this morning: “Nearly all” customers had text and call data leaked in a massive cyberattack. We’re talking 95 million people.
“Kim, really? Another data breach?” I know, but don’t tune this one out. It has scary implications for your privacy.
Hackers broke into a third-party cloud platform AT&T used to store customer data. More specifically, the breach included records of phone calls and texts of cellular customers, wireless network customers and landline customers between May 2022 and October 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023.
Some stolen records also include cell site IDs. This is where things get especially scary. Those records can be used to track a phone’s location, intercept or block calls, and create fake cell towers for eavesdropping.
The stolen data doesn’t include the contents of those phone calls and text messages — but I’d argue all that location data might be worse.
Picture it: Someone with enough info to “watch” you leaving your home for work, to run errands, to go to a doctor’s appointment — all just based on tower pings from calls and texts sent along the way.
AT&T says hackers didn’t steal dates of birth and Social Security numbers, and what they did get doesn’t include timestamps. The data will reveal which customers interacted and how often but not exactly when the interactions occurred.
The breached data is publically available … yet. Of course, those responsible could choose to release the data or put it up for sale at any time, which they will do unless AT&T pays them off.
This is still a developing story, but we do know AT&T has closed off the cyberattack’s access point and is working with law enforcement. This all happened back in April, FYI. So far, at least one person involved has been apprehended.
If your data was included in this latest breach, you’ll hear about it by text or email or get something in the mail. Assume it’s you if you were an AT&T customer between May and October 2022 or on Jan. 2, 2023.
⌚ Cha-ching: Samsung is coming out with its first-ever high-end smartwatch and smart ring with AI features. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is $650, and the Galaxy Ring is $399 — $100 more than the base model of its biggest competitor, the Oura Ring Gen 3.
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It’s happening more and more. I keep several extra cases of water on hand, just to be safe.
Shot into space in the past five years. Elon Musk is responsible for about 72% of that. Starlink satellites only have a five-year lifespan. Musk wants to put as many as 42,000 in orbit. Space junk could become a massive problem within our lifetime. At least we’ll have Mars or a new exoplanet. 🙄
Miracle Grow is NOT a supplement you should be consuming. Please don’t believe everything you see online.
Criminals want to get to know your schedule … so they know exactly the right time to attack. Beware of camouflaged cameras recording every time you leave the house.
Share with someone who might be at risk of falling victim to this junk. So sad.
In Apple Vision Pro purchases by August. Uh-oh. Anyone willing to shell out $3,500 probably already has. Apple’s best hope for a comeback is a cheaper model in 2025. Even at half the original cost, it’ll still be one of the priciest VR headsets out there.
Watch to the end. I’ll tell ya. Make your guess now!
Starting next week, following a 5-cent increase. Mailing a postcard in the U.S. will now cost ya 56 cents (a 3-cent increase), and mailing postcards and letters internationally will set you back $1.65, up 10 cents. That’s just not write.
Ticket heist: Cybercriminals are selling fake tickets online for the upcoming Paris Olympics. It’s a large-scale effort with over 700 fake domains. Telltale signs? Spelling and grammar mistakes and super inflated prices. Stick to the official sales platform.
On YouTube for MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson. “I remember freaking out when I hit 300 subscribers 11 years ago,” he posted on X. Here’s a quick vid where Andrew and I talk about his rise to internet fame.
The oldest skateboarder at this year’s Olympics. Father of three Andy Macdonald will compete for Britain alongside his two teenage teammates (paywall link). Both of them are younger than Andy’s oldest kid. And get this: It’s his first Olympics, so he’s def not skate-bored.
I use an AirTag to always know where my car is. The key is to hide the tracker so a thief doesn’t know about it. The better hidden it is, the better off you’ll be.
Update your PC: Windows’ latest Patch Tuesday fixes a whopping 142 flaws, including four zero-days (aka vulnerabilities hackers already know about). There are non-security updates, too: Windows 11 KB5040442 and Windows 10 KB5040427.
A waking nightmare: A 33-year-old Iowa woman is suing a medical device manufacturer after her heart monitor provided doctors with data from a different patient. This led to an unnecessary pacemaker surgery. And get this: She wasn’t sedated properly and was awake during the entire operation.
Cranking up randomly on Philips Hue smart bulbs. Philips recently made their bulbs compatible with Matter. A bug is making lights flicker without warning. Until they fix it, disconnect your Hue Bridge from Matter on your iPhone.
Found at a bus stop. “The Rest on the Flight into Egypt” sold recently at Christie’s. An art detective found it at a bus stop seven years after it was stolen from a British marquess. Fun fact: A marquess is ranked above an earl and below a duke … not to be confused with the Duke of Earl.
You can never be too careful when it comes to your stuff. I suggest putting an Airtag or Tile in your car so you’re always covered. I did it!
Waymo says the vehicle was confused by construction signs and stayed in the oncoming lane for 30 seconds because “it was blocked from navigating back into the correct lane.” Luckily, no one was hurt.
