Many IT departments have software that can detect simple things like inactivity. But with the rise in mouse jigglers, IT is keeping a closer eye on those who work from home.
AT&T data breach: Who’s at risk and what to do now
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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.
What happened?
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.
What now?
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.
Your data: It’s all posted online - But there's a simple way to remove it
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A loyal reader, Racquel, emailed me recently after dealing with a very angry customer at work. “Last week, she left me a voicemail and said that I was behind all her problems and she was ‘going to find’ where I lived.”
Don’t miss these early Prime Day deals
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