T-Mobile investigating claims of massive hack involving customer data

By Trevor Mogg Published August 16, 2021

T-Mobile says it’s investigating claims of a major data breach that may affect as many as 100 million of its customers.

A message spotted on an underground forum on Sunday, August 15, came from someone claiming to be in possession of personal data belonging to 100 million people. The message made no mention of T-Mobile, but when the poster was contacted by news site Motherboard, it became apparent that the mobile company’s customers were at the center of the alleged hack. The figure of 100 million would be remarkable as it’s almost equal to T-Mobile’s entire customer base.

Recommended Videos

The seller told Motherboard that the data belonged to “T-Mobile USA” customers and contains everything from names, social security numbers, and phone numbers, to home addresses, driver license information, and unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. The news site said it was able to confirm the accuracy of the stolen data after reviewing a sample.

The perpetrator is asking for 6 bitcoin — currently worth about $285,000 — in exchange for a block of social security and driver license information linked to 30 million T-Mobile customers.

Those claiming to hold the data added that T-Mobile may have already found out about the hack as they can no longer access the company’s servers. But the company, which merged with Sprint last year in a deal worth $26 billion, is yet to confirm publicly if its servers were breached, saying only that it is “aware of claims made in an underground forum” and that is “actively investigating their validity.” T-Mobile added that it will share more information when it becomes available.

If the breach turns out to be true and affects such a large number of T-Mobile customers, it would be a huge blow for the company as it seeks to restore its reputation following similar stumbles in recent years, the most recent of which took place at the end of 2020 with as many as 200,000 customers impacted.

We’re waiting for T-Mobile to issue an update on the alleged and breach and we will update this article just as soon as we know.

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

T-Mobile crushed its rivals in this important test

A person playing a game on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro.

In the U.S., the top carriers don't offer the same network performance. One carrier has significantly outperformed the others over the past six months, according to data collected in network and connectivity expert Ookla's latest "Speedtest Connectivity Report." The report, which covers data collected between July and December 2024, found that T-Mobile, the third-largest carrier in the U.S., has emerged as the clear leader in overall performance. The differences are striking.

Ookla reports that T-Mobile provides media download speeds 120% faster than its closest competitor, AT&T. Verizon, the largest carrier by subscriber count, ranked third. These speeds are enough for Ookla to conclude that T-Mobile offers the best mobile gaming experience.

Mobile

T-Mobile’s long-awaited satellite service is finally ready for testing

Texting over T-Mobile direct-to-cell satellite network on a phone.

T-Mobile pledged to “end mobile dead zones” all the way back in 2022, thanks to a deal with SpaceX that would entail using Starlink satellites to enable communication across the entirety of the country. In September this year, the carrier successfully relayed a satellite-driven emergency alert to assess the service.

Now, T-Mobile seems ready for real testing.

Mobile

T-Mobile has completely revamped its 5G home internet plans

As we approach the new year, T-Mobile has announced significant updates to its 5G home and small business internet plans. The new plans start at $35 per month for customers who sign up for AutoPay and have a voice line. Overall, they are slightly less expensive than current plans.

First up is the T-Mobile Rely Internet plan that offers essential home Wi-Fi services at a competitive monthly rate backed by a Price Lock guarantee. The T-Mobile Amplified Internet plan provides faster internet speeds, along with advanced cybersecurity for home users or a mesh device for small business customers.

nproxy.org