AT&T Pays Hackers $370,000 in Major Data Breach
In a significant cybersecurity incident this year, AT&T fell victim to a data breach that resulted in a ransom payout of approximately $370,000 to hackers. The breach, which involved the theft of sensitive customer data, underscores the growing threat of cyber extortion.
The hackers, reportedly linked to the notorious ShinyHunters group, managed to access and exfiltrate vast amounts of call and text logs from AT&T’s systems. Following the attack, the hackers initially demanded $1 million for the deletion of the stolen data. However, after negotiations, the ransom was settled at $370,000, paid in Bitcoin on May 17, 2024 [❞] [❞].
The breach has been linked to compromised login credentials at Snowflake Inc., a third-party data analysis software provider used by AT&T. This incident is part of a broader wave of cybersecurity threats that have targeted numerous organizations globally, with over 160 major data breaches reported this year alone [❞].
Despite AT&T’s efforts to mitigate the damage, the incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current cybersecurity measures and the vulnerability of sensitive data stored by large corporations. The payout to the hackers, while substantial, is considered relatively low compared to other high-profile ransomware demands, indicating a potentially dangerous trend of increasing frequency and sophistication in cyber attacks.
The breach has not only impacted AT&T but has also affected other organizations using Snowflake’s services, including Ticketmaster and Santander Bank, which have reported similar data compromises. This widespread impact highlights the critical need for enhanced security protocols and stricter access controls to protect against such intrusions in the future [❞].
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