AT&T Breach Exposes 86 Million Social Security Numbers: Check Your Risk Now
Massive AT&T Data Breach Exposes 86 Million Customers’ Sensitive Information
A massive data breach affecting over 86 million AT&T customers has exposed highly sensitive information, including fully decrypted Social Security numbers (SSNs), on the dark web. The leaked data, posted to a Russian cybercrime forum on June 3, includes full names, birthdates, phone numbers, email and home addresses, and 44 million SSNs in plain text.
[Image: Dark web forum screenshot with leaked data lists]
Caption: Hackers posted AT&T customer data, including Social Security numbers, on a Russian cybercrime forum.
The breach has been linked to vulnerabilities in Snowflake, a cloud storage platform used by major corporations. Hackers reportedly exploited accounts lacking multi-factor authentication (MFA), a basic security measure. Cybersecurity experts urge affected customers to check their exposure via tools like npd.pentester.com and to monitor credit reports closely. Law enforcement is investigating as the data spreads across criminal networks in easily exploitable CSV files.
[Image: Example of leaked data fields in CSV format]
Caption: Leaked files contain personal details formatted for easy access, raising risks of identity theft.
AT&T confirmed the breach impacted current and former customers, blaming the Russian group ShinyHunters. While 73 million victims were notified of a similar 2019 breach, hackers accessed additional records since then. “We are confident this is repackaged data previously released,” AT&T stated, adding that law enforcement was alerted.
[Image: ShinyHunters logo or hacker silhouette]
Caption: Cybercrime group ShinyHunters, behind the AT&T and Ticketmaster breaches, continues targeting high-profile companies.
ShinyHunters, also responsible for the Ticketmaster breach impacting 560 million people, has drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley demand accountability from AT&T and Snowflake for repeated security failures.
Exposed SSNs and birthdates heighten risks of identity fraud, enabling criminals to open credit lines or impersonate victims. “This poses a significant risk to identities,” warned Thomas Richards of Black Duck.
AT&T paid a $370,000 Bitcoin ransom in 2023 via intermediary ‘Reddington,’ but experts caution there’s no guarantee data wasn’t copied pre-deletion.
[Image: Person reviewing credit report on laptop]
Caption: Experts recommend vigilance: freeze credit, enable fraud alerts, and update passwords.
Steps to Protect Yourself:
- Check Exposure: Use AT&T’s portal or third-party tools.
- Freeze Credit: Prevent unauthorized accounts.
- Enable Alerts: Monitor for suspicious activity.
- Update Security: Use MFA and unique passwords.
As breaches escalate, consumers and corporations must prioritize cybersecurity to combat evolving threats.
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