AT&T's $370,000 Deal with Hacker to Delete Stolen Data
Earlier this year, AT&T paid around $370,000 to a hacker to delete customer data stolen in a hacking spree, according to Wired. The hacker provided a video as proof of the deletion. Negotiations were handled by an intermediary named Reddington, representing a member of the ShinyHunters hacking group. Initially, the hacker demanded $1 million, but AT&T managed to lower the ransom, paying in bitcoin on May 17th.
Reddington, also paid by AT&T for his role, believes the only full copy of the data was deleted, though some excerpts might still be out there. He mentioned negotiating similar deals with other companies. Prior to AT&T’s breach announcement, Ticketmaster and Santander Bank were also targeted using credentials from Snowflake, a third-party cloud storage provider. Hackers reportedly attacked over 160 companies using a script after breaching Ticketmaster.
Why It Matters for Transportation and Logistics:
In the transportation and logistics industry, data security is crucial because we handle sensitive information about shipments, clients, and operations. If a big player like AT&T can get hacked and end up paying a hefty ransom, it highlights how vulnerable even the most robust systems can be. This incident is a wake-up call to ramp up cybersecurity measures and ensure our data protection protocols are airtight.
Hot Take:
With AT&T shelling out $370K to delete stolen data, it's clear that no one is safe from cyber threats. In logistics, where data integrity is key, investing in top-notch cybersecurity isn't just optional—it's a must to avoid costly breaches and keep operations running smoothly.
Earlier this year, AT&T paid around $370,000 to a hacker to delete customer data stolen in a hacking spree, according to Wired.