T-Mobile: Hackers offer millions of US customer data for sale

There has apparently been a gigantic data leak at T-Mobile. As part of a cyber attack, the telecommunications service provider’s servers are said to have been hacked and customers’ data copied. A total of 100 million customers are said to have been affected by the leak. The hackers are now offering their digital loot for sale in the US.

U.S. customers affected

It did not take long for the hackers to convert the copied customer data into money. Thus, the sometimes extremely sensitive and personal information was offered for sale in a corresponding forum for cyber criminals. In particular, the hackers came across names, phone numbers, addresses and even social security numbers during their attack. They were also able to get hold of the coveted IMEI. These are unique numbers that every smartphone carries. T-Mobile customers in the USA are affected by the attack.

Sensitive data offered in exchange for Bitcoins

The stolen data is now available for purchase in exchange for Bitcoins. For a price of six Bitcoins, it is said to be possible to buy 30 million social security numbers as well as driver’s license information. This is the equivalent of about 240,000 euros. According to the hacker, he wants to sell the remaining data privately. His access to the affected servers at T-Mobile is no longer given, he said.

Not the first data leak at T-Mobile

Needless to say, T-Mobile is anything but pleased about the data leak. Here’s what the company had to say in a statement:

“We are aware of the allegations in an underground forum and are actively investigating their validity. At this time, we have no further information to provide.”

What will be particularly galling for the company is the fact that the hacking attack is not the first data leak. After all, T-Mobile USA has also previously been the victim of corresponding data thefts. In 2018, for example, there was the theft of nearly two million customer records.

Does T-Mobile USA have a security problem?

Meanwhile, customers of the telecommunications provider may be fearful for their sensitive data. After all, it’s not just data leaks that reveal that T-Mobile USA may be a little too lax with its customers’ data. After all, it was only in the spring of this year that a hacker was able to prove that he could read the text messages of T-Mobile’s customers. The company should therefore take the current attack as an opportunity to fundamentally rethink and revise its data security.