AT&T Data Breach Affects Over 70 Million Customers

Over the weekend, AT&T disclosed it suffered a major data breach. The company says that 7.6 million current AT&T customers and 65.4 million former customers had data exposed in the event, and will be contacting those affected by email or letter.

According to AT&T, the data breach affected each customer differently. The company couldn’t confirm exactly how much of each data type was compromised, but did provide a list of information that may have been stolen, including: full name, email address, mailing address, phone number, social security number, date of birth, AT&T account number and passcode.

AT&T doesn’t know exactly how this data was stolen in the first place. According to the company, it can confirm the data set was released on the dark web, but that it’s not clear whether that data came from AT&T directly, or from a third-party that works with the company.

What the company does know is that the data is old: AT&T says the data is from at least 2019, if not earlier, so any data leaked in at least five years old. Still, much of this data is sensitive.

If your data was included in the breach, whether you’re a current AT&T subscriber or not, you will be contacted by the company directly. AT&T will either email you or send you a letter detailing exactly what data of yours was found in the breach.

As part of its preventative measures, AT&T has reset all active users’ account passcodes, the four digit PIN used to verify your identity. You will need to reset your account passcode whether or not you were affected by the breach. In addition, the company is offering free credit monitoring, as social security numbers were leaked in this event. You can learn more from the letter AT&T sends you if affected. In the meantime, the company points you to use a free credit reporting service from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.