Crypto is Being Stolen Via Compromised AT&T Email Accounts
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- By Steven
- Published: May 03, 2023
- Last Updated: May 04, 2023
Communications company AT&T offers email services to many of its customers. Those emails have recently been compromised by way of an interesting exploit that is costing customers millions of dollars in stolen cryptocurrency. AT&T customers are having their email accounts attacked, and those exploited email accounts are being used to steal additional data and to access cryptocurrency exchange accounts, which is a very serious issue for the impacted users. Users with att.net, sbcglobal.net, bellsouth.net, and any other associated AT&T email accounts are currently at risk.
How Did the Attack Occur?
In early April, a gang managed to find a way to exploit AT&T email accounts. The exploit supposedly misuses the company's API to generate email keys that enable users to get into any user email account. The exploit takes advantage of the way the email accounts connect to third-party email clients like Outlook and Thunderbird. By using this access point, the hackers can gain access to any secure AT&T email account, and it doesn't matter if they change their passwords; the attackers can still keep coming.
What Information Was Viewed or Stolen?
The goal of the hackers wasn't to steal information, it was to take over cryptocurrency exchange accounts and crypto wallets. The attackers used the stolen email addresses to reset passwords for major crypto exchanges and wallets. Once inside those secure accounts, the hackers could steal all the cryptocurrencies in the accounts.
How Did Business Admit to the Breach?
Originally, information about this attack was anonymously reported to TechCrunch. The individual that sent over details explained how the email exploit is being used on a range of different AT&T email accounts and other associated accounts and how some customers are having their cryptocurrency stolen by way of this email exploit. AT&T later responded to the story explaining what it had determined about the data breach and how steps were being taken to stop this incident from being an issue.
What Will Become of the Stolen Information?
Hackers are moving quickly and using the data to steal cryptocurrency from a variety of different account types. If you have crypto on any of the major platforms, you may be at risk of being hacked. Attackers are actively trying to break into these different accounts and get access to this information.
What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach?
If you believe you are at risk of having your email hacked or it has already been hacked, you should take immediate steps to secure your crypto as effectively as possible. Put multi-factor authentication protection on any crypto exchange accounts and wallets that you have. Make it so the attackers can't access your accounts even if they have the ability to reset your passwords. You could also consider moving your crypto to new accounts established with a different email that isn't connected to AT&T in any way. Either way, you should always secure your crypto account with an authentication tool that is difficult to get through remotely.
