AT&T has notified around 9 million of its customers about a marketing vendor the company used that was hacked in January, exposing the private information of these wireless accounts.
Here’s what we know and what tips we can give you to protect yourself.
What information was exposed in this data breach?
The company said credit card information, social security numbers and account passwords were not exposed during the data breach. However, the Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) of roughly 9 million AT&T users was exposed. Their systems were not compromised in the process, and the data that was compromised was several years old and mostly related to device upgrade eligibility.
An AT&T spokesperson said, “A small percentage of impacted customers also had exposure of rate plan name, past due amount, monthly payment amount, various monthly charges and/or minutes used. The information was several years old.”
AT&T has notified law enforcement about the data breach, however, the report they gave did not include any specific information about any user’s account. They only stated to law enforcement that a breach had occurred, as required by the Federal Trade Commission.
How can I protect myself and my data?
AT&T is first urging people to make a CPNI Restriction Request, which would turn off CPNI data sharing on their accounts and reduce the risk of having their information exposed in the future should AT&T use it again for third-party vendor marketing purposes.
Aside from taking this step, here are some more tips to further protect you:
Have good antivirus software on all your devices
The best way to protect yourself from having your data breached is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing email or ransomware scams. My top pick is TotalAV, and you can get a limited-time deal for CyberGuy readers: $19 your first year (80% off) for the TotalAV Antivirus Pro package.
Use identify theft protection
Companies such as my #1 pick, Identity Guard, can monitor your Social Security Number (SSN) and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. One of Identity Guard’s best features is its White Glove Fraud resolution team. This service provides a US-based White Glove case manager (an actual person) to help you recover your identity should it be stolen. You can work with this case manager to recover any losses associated with the identity theft you experience. In addition, Identity Guard is backed by $1 million identity theft insurance to cover losses, legal fees, and more. Click here to read my review of best Identity Theft protection.
Have strong passwords and use 2-factor authentication
Using the same password across multiple platforms will always make you more vulnerable because if one account gets hacked, they all get hacked. And 2-factor authentication is just an extra shield that will prevent a hacker from getting into your accounts. Make sure to use a password manager to keep track of all your passwords.
Create alias email addresses
Sometimes, it’s best to use various email aliases so that you don’t have to worry about all your info getting taken in a data breach. StartMail is my top pick because it’s all about privacy, and it allows you to create unlimited, anonymous aliases. You can also get an exclusive deal for CyberGuy readers: 50% off: $29.98 for first year ($2.50 per month, billed annually). Includes a free 7-day trial.
What extra steps are you taking to protect yourself in a data breach? Let us know your thoughts.
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