Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Communications Privacy Security Technology

T-Mobile Reveals Data Breach Affecting Prepaid Customers (tmonews.com) 15

Posted by BeauHD from the you-get-what-you-pay-for dept.
T-Mobile says it has suffered a data breach affecting some prepaid customers. No financial data, social security numbers, or passwords were accessed, but information associated with users' prepaid wireless accounts was obtained, including names, billing addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, rate plans, and features that users have added to their accounts. TmoNews reports: T-Mobile is in the process of notifying all customers that've been affected by this data breach. If you got a notification, you should update the PIN on your T-Mobile account. T-Mo does say that it's possible that some affected customers may not be notified because their contact info isn't up-to-date, so if that's the case with you, you can contact T-Mobile support for more info by dialing 611 from your T-Mo phone or 1-800-TMOBILE from any phone. There's no word yet on exactly how many customers were affected by this security issue, but some Reddit users have chimed in to say that they've been alerted to the breach by T-Mobile. "We take the security of your information very seriously and have a number of safeguards in place to protect your personal information from unauthorized access," T-Mobile says. "We truly regret that this incident occurred and apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

T-Mobile Reveals Data Breach Affecting Prepaid Customers More

T-Mobile Reveals Data Breach Affecting Prepaid Customers

Comments Filter:
  • Prepaid phones (in the US) don't require ID or credit check for now. Why would anyone give a real name or billing address? "Names, billing addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, rate plans, and features that users have added to their accounts"

    • Actually, they are tracked... your first few calls are given to your local police to solve for your identity. If any part of the account is paid for by credit/debit they get your name and billing address.

      Seems like this breach is that somebody untrusted got into the billing database.

    • Many people connect their prepaid phones to bank accounts or to credit cards so that they can easily refill their prepay credit. That provides a link from the phone to a stack of personal information that is worth stealing.

      I buy and refill my prepaid mobile (which is only a data sim for my tablet) with cash, but that doesn't work for everyone. Meanwhile, if you hack my other mobile provider you can get my address and bank account details that are used to pay the monthly subscription. A lot of people run the

      • Tracfone sent me a free phone when 2G was being phased out in my area. They clearly didnt want me to jump ship even though I've basically spent the minimum possible with them ($20 every 3 months.)

        So why did I give them my address? For a free phone, stupid.

    • Prepaid phones (in the US) don't require ID or credit check for now. Why would anyone give a real name or billing address?

      "Names, billing addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, rate plans, and features that users have added to their accounts"

      Why give billing address? Well, your e911 address is your billing address [t-mobile.com], and to enable and use Wi-Fi calling, you must set up an e911 address [t-mobile.com].

      Unless you don't need or want to use W-Fi calling.

    • It is a long time ago that I used a prepaid cell phone, but the "prepaid" USB network cards you can buy in the Netherlands all work the same way. You can buy a basic card with the USB device and 5 € on them, and the only way to put more on the "card" is by going on-line and give up your privacy.

  • MOST people doing prepaid aren't exactly flush with cash (leaving out paranoids and drug dealers here). I can't see how they have anything worth stealing really.

    • The prepaid option ($30, no taxes/fees) gives far more than I need.

      Why would I pay $50 or more for a comparable post paid plan?

      • The prepaid option ($30, no taxes/fees) gives far more than I need.

        Why would I pay $50 or more for a comparable post paid plan?

        Exactly. I don't get it either.

  • This sounds like some grade A bull shit to me. They have their fucking phone number, they can call and leave a voice mail, or text them.

  • The article or summary do not mention it, but it was T-Mobile USA.

Slashdot Top Deals

Top Ten Things Overheard At The ANSI C Draft Committee Meetings: (10) Sorry, but that's too useful.

Close