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Not a joke: T-Mobile actually prevented a data breach for once (Update: Statement)
- T-Mobile reportedly managed to contain a security breach, according to a new report.
- The breach was detected early, and customer data wasn’t accessed by the hackers, sources claimed.
- This comes after T-Mobile was hit by an embarrassing string of data breaches spanning several years.
Update, November 20, 2024 (01:45 PM ET): T-Mobile has provided us with a statement related to this story. The unedited statement is here:
T-Mobile is closely monitoring this industry-wide attack. Due to our security controls, network structure and diligent monitoring and response we have seen no significant impacts to T-Mobile systems or data. We have no evidence of access or exfiltration of any customer or other sensitive information as other companies may have experienced. We will continue to monitor this closely, working with industry peers and the relevant authorities.
Our article continues after the break. Please note that we use speculative language throughout because this information is based on anonymous sources speaking with Bloomberg. We have asked T-Mobile to confirm certain aspects of the article’s claims, such as what exactly happened. We will update the original article if and when we get that information.
T-Mobile has had a concerning number of data breaches in recent years, with as many as nine breaches since 2019. However, we’re very surprised to hear that the company may have prevented a breach.
Bloomberg reports (spotted via Android Police) that T-Mobile actually contained a data breach, citing people familiar with the matter. The sources claimed that the hackers gained access to “edge-routing infrastructure” and were able to access a “limited number” of devices, including a T-Mobile-operated router.
T-Mobile was apparently able to detect the hackers’ reconnaissance activity, which aimed to access deeper parts of the network, and shut it down. It’s believed that customer data wasn’t accessed because the breach was detected at an early juncture. Bloomberg‘s sources add that T-Mobile was “highly confident” the method used to access its network was now gone.
Breaking a string of major breaches
The sources couldn’t identify the hackers or confirm when the hack took place, but the news also comes days after T-Mobile revealed it was breached by hackers purportedly linked to the Chinese government.
No organization is impervious to hackers, but we do hope this latest news is a sign of things to come for T-Mobile after years of repeated breaches. The news also comes several weeks after the FCC and T-Mobile reached a $31.5 million settlement regarding these incidents. The carrier will be required to invest half of this money in cybersecurity.