T-Mobile Breach

T-Mobile is a mobile communications giant that was founded in 1999. Their headquarters are in Germany, while their markets consist of the Czech Republic, Netherlands, the United States, and Poland.

What Was the Breach?

T-Mobile suffered a massive data breach late last summer. The breach was one of many in recent years for the telecommunications giant, yet it was still significant. All in all, more than 50 million people were victimized in the attack. The telecom specialist responded to the attack by resetting the PIN codes for all exposed accounts. The company also reached out to customers whose accounts were compromised in the attack.

How Did the Breach Occur?

A hacker apparently plucked information directly from T-Mobile servers by an unknown access point. The company claims to have since eliminated all potential access points that digital miscreants could use to obtain access to servers.

When Did This Breach Occur?

This breach occurred on August 17, 2021.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

The breach impacts T-Mobile customers. The hacked information ranges from driver's license numbers to dates of birth, full names, Social Security numbers, and more. However, company representatives have stated that there is no indication that the information within the stolen files pertained to customer financial information. It is unclear whether customer passwords and pins were accessed in the attack. There is also some uncertainty about whether financial information was exposed. If it was, the extent to which such information might have been exposed is also unclear.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

The attack compromised the information of more than 50 million people. Hackers stole the data of nearly eight million active "postpaid" accounts and nearly a million prepaid accounts. However, the brunt of the 50+ million individuals compromised in the attack were applicants for T-Mobile lines of credit.