Verizon Communications Inc. Suffers Data Breach That Affects Hundreds

Throughout 2022, T-Mobile, a massive Verizon competitor, has suffered multiple large-scale data breaches. Finally, it’s time for T-Mobile to take the back burner and let Verizon take front and center in the public eye. Verizon Communitations Inc., more commonly known as Verizon, is a phone plan provider that maintains its partnership with multiple phone manufacturers, including Apple and Samsung. On October 6, 2022, one day before the company’s 39th anniversary, it suffered a relatively small data breach. The breach only affected about 250 customers, but these people are worried for their safety, and rightly so.

How Did the Attack Occur?

“(W)e determined that between October 6 and October 10, 2022, a third party actor accessed the last four digits of the credit card used to make automatic payments on your account,” Verizon said in a statement. The notice went on to list what the company had done to combat the breach. It also reminded victims that Verizon would never ask for their personal information unprompted, so to remain careful of phishing and other scams.

What Information Was Viewed or Stolen?

The stolen information included the last four digits of the credit card tied to the account. By gaining access to the card number, the hacker gained the ability to go into the victim’s Verizon account and request a SIM transfer. This might seem alarming to the affected, but look at it objectively; most hackers go after far more sensitive information. Many data breaches include names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, social security numbers, and even medical insurance information. In 2022 alone, we’ve seen a massive spike in hacks to hospitals, doctor’s offices, and healthcare providers all around the globe, so this breach is tiny in comparison.

How Did Verizon Admit to the Breach?

Verizon admitted to the breach when it began to notify the affected customers of the violation. “We recently identified possible unauthorized activity involving about 250 prepaid wireless accounts,” Verizon told Bleeping Computer. “We secured these accounts and put in place additional measures to protect our customers from further unauthorized access or fraud.”

What Will Become of the Stolen Information?

With the stolen information, there could be a few attacks that the hacker could try. They could always try to get the SIMs back, but Verizon is now on guard for that. What the hacker will most likely do now is launch a series of phishing attacks on the victims. 

What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach?

We know that it may seem daunting, but you can take a few steps to help ensure your safety. A small, quick, and easy step is to not respond to emails, texts, or phone calls from unknown numbers with suspicious claims. Many hackers will create a pseudo-business, making their claims seem significant. The best thing to do in situations like these is to look the company up for yourselves, find out if they’re legitimate, and then trust your gut. Your instincts are there for a reason, so if your mind is telling you something feels off, listen to it.