37 million customers exposed in T-Mobile data breach
Hackers go after big companies for all the juicy customer data they can provide, and no organization is safe.
Just last month, DraftKings suffered a data breach. Here’s what to do if you have an account with the online sports betting service.
Being one of the “big three” wireless providers in the U.S. makes T-Mobile a prime target. Here’s what you need to know.
Note: T-Mobile is a sponsor of Kim’s national radio show.
The breach
On Jan. 5, T-Mobile identified a “bad actor” obtaining data through a single Application Programming Interface. An API is a set of rules that allow two applications to talk to each other and is often a target for hackers.
According to T-Mobile’s SEC filing, the API in question didn’t provide access to any customer payment card information, Social Security numbers, government-issued ID numbers, passwords/PINs or other financial account information. Rather, the hack exposed customer data that included names, billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdays and T-Mobile account numbers and plan information.
The investigation revealed that some 37 million customer accounts were compromised, though many of them did not include the full data set.
T-Mobile believes that the breach began around Nov. 5, 2022. The company made an official announcement this week and has been informing affected customers.
Regarding the breach, T-Mobile says it “shut it down within 24 hours,” and that customer accounts and finances were spared.
RELATED: Norton customer breach: Were your passwords stolen?
What you can do
Norton renewal email scam: Keep an eye out for this phony invoice
Many software companies adopted a Software as a Service (SaaS) business model about a decade ago. Instead of making a one-time purchase for a program, it is sold at a monthly cost. The best example of this is when Microsoft changed the model for Office. Tap or click here for free alternatives to Microsoft Word.
Don't do it - This antivirus software installs crypto-miner (and takes a cut)
Cryptocurrencies have been around for some time and are very popular. But it comes with some risks, and this is the most dangerous thing you can do if you’re new to crypto.
The digital currency is created through a process called crypto mining. Many people have gone to great lengths to develop elaborate crypto mining operations, spending thousands of dollars on high-end machines that run day and night. Others have taken to sneakier methods for hopefully getting rich.