AT&T Systems Hacked

If it took them this long to find that out than they have some major security breaches.

"fewer than 19,000 customers"

Which means in normal non-corporate terms, millions. AT&T is one of the largest telco's in the country... one would think they would have an endless supply of security barriers.

Wrong! Only those who used the webstore are affected. Definitely not millions.

Did you miss the part in the article where they detected the problem and shut down the system WITHIN HOURS. It just didn't make the NEWS for a few days.

Which is also the same as "more than 18,000 customers". It is all in how you present it.

Now I feel like a total idiot.. lol
Thanks for the info.

If it was 19,001 I would be concerned.

Fewer than 19,000 = 18,999

One would tend to think, the NSA/ATT would have tighter security measures in place, in addition to a superb perimeter defense. Which would look as if its a virtual impenetrable fortress

And the Gov. wants backdoors built into all modems and routers? Not hard to imagine the resulting mayhem and chaos, that nightmare will "open up". Which would = technology, take three steps backwards. Hackers take three steps forward.

It appears the hackers have the edge, because they can hack whatever best shot is thrown at them. I'm not a hacker fan or supporter by posting this: Its rather obvious the smartest people are not in or running for office, nor are they employed at large corporations.

Fewer than 19000 = "oh it's not that big of a problem!" /pr guys idiotic attempt at brushing this one under the rug

hAHAHA. Why doesn't this surprise me. I mean, goodness, the NSA had to have a way to get in too, right???

With a little bit of research (obtaining IP from sbcdslstore.com and looking it up in ARIN) you can see that the IP belongs to
OrgName: ModusLink Corporation
OrgID: MODUS-2
Address: Worldwide Corporate Headquarters
Address: 1100 Winter Street
Address: Suite 4600
City: Waltham
StateProv: MA
PostalCode: 02451
Country: US

Which is a separate company that provides the equipment to AT&T. So in essence, it wasn't an AT&T breach, it was a supplier breach.

...this story was posted by a known Comcast employee.

We had a little discussion in the ATT-Midwest forum about this yesterday. Nobody seemed to be overly concerned especially since they (ATT) detected the intrusion, shut down the affected server(s) immediately, are notifying all affected customers and are paying for credit monitoring to minimize the damage.

Show me another instance where a company actually was proactive about such a system intrusion? Some banks don't even respond that well.

I know it's almost impossible for many here to utter even one good word about any incumbent, but this time AT&T did the right thing.

That's my job, thanks.

Look Doc, if I don't like Ma Bell/telcos I'll complain, regardless of what does or doesn't happen. End of story.

Do you still do FTS for AT&T? or did you move on already>?
Just curious.

Looks that they didn't get any help from the NSA on super secret ways to secure their networks.

I moved to Tallahassee a little over a year ago. I've been unemployed since, but am looking at doing tech support for the state starting next week. Apparently nobody wants to hire a programmer-wannabe with no experience.

Actually I jumped SBCs shipped right before they bought AT&T Wireless. Soon after SBC purchased ATT telco I moved to Tallahassee.

I'm confused by this comment. Are you being implicative, and if so, of what? The fact that Comcast still exclusively -- and only -- peers with AT&T? Or the fact that AT&T Broadband is now part-of Comcast?

*confused look*

Your world....
......delivered to the mafia.

Well if you look up the IP of sbcdslstore.com you will see that it's owned by Moduslink
OrgName: ModusLink Corporation
OrgID: MODUS-2
Address: Worldwide Corporate Headquarters

So, to say it was completely in AT&T's hands might be a bit far off. It was more of a supplier leak than a telco giant leak. Still not the best thing to happen for a companies PR though.

Now they got your Name,Address and SS#. Next time I order anything(Ie phone or broadband) I'll use a FAKE name,social security and drivers license numbers.

Ummm...It's CRACKERS, not hackers. There's a distinction in meanings between the words and the glib use of the word hacker all the time shows how brainwashed even the computer "elite" is by the media and government.

"The fact that Comcast still exclusively -- and only -- peers with AT&T? Or the fact that AT&T Broadband is now part-of Comcast?"

Isn't thaqt nice? When you're getting ripped off by comcast it's doublessly because they have to pay Ma Bell a high price, just like the so called "alternative" phone companies.

But then, who cares as long as you get your comcastic 6 megs, right?

Seems the Ma Bell hydra has many tenticles.

Yes. I'm sure your world more than any other would be of facinating interest to the media and government. Doubtlessly, they watch all you do, 5287 Smith W.

This is because they agreed to that FCC backdoor on all ISP networks.

While your at it can you say hi for the prison warden for me? Thanks.

That's an old debate but who cares what they are "called".. they broke into the system.. some say they "hacked" into the network and some say cracked. In the end, circa 19k users credit card information is gone and probably on the black market in Russia already with all the rest of the data from the U.S. that gets "stolen"...

Companies like AT&T should know better. Seems these stories pop up about once a week any more.

Where is congress to crack down on some real issues that threaten our people, the ones they are supposed to represent, on a daily basis? Oh, I know.. they are more worried about who can marry who, if the flag can be burned, and all the other 'social' feel good issues that don't matter one bit.

I wonder if these people know what it's like to have to spend several yeras of your financial life getting it back in order after your personal info is stolen. The loss of use of credit or good credit. Having to pay cash for everything. Having to fend off abusive debt collectors for bills that aren't even yours. (Let's not being into account how debt collectors also like to screw with your financial data too - another conversation sometime) and if these people know what it's like to have to pay twice for your home than others, all becuase they didn't apply laws where they are most needed; to protect people's stability - which effects the economy in the end.

Yea... two guys can't marry, I feel so much better, I mean, we're a better nation because of it. But millions of people's finacial stability are destroyed all the time. I LOVE the government.

Let's review..

AT&T
AOL
SPRINT
CITI
Federal Government
Stat of Minnesota (BIG OFFENDER)
US Bank..

the list goes on... all companies that have had personal inforamtion leaked or stolen. I would be less shocked if it was ma and pop companies loosing information. My companies seem to be able to hold data secure, why can't AT&T?

Doesn't matter. AT&T has made the relationship between that other company, they need to make sure that the 3rd party is handling the data correctly. To the customer, they see AT&T, not ModusLink Corp. I, as an AT&T customer, could give a ratt's as*s less who the 3rd aprty is.. MY vendor is AT&T.

When comcast hired a contractor to handle some isntallation work and the guy beat a woman, everyone went after Comcast, as they should. Same thing here. I don't care who the contractor is, the buck stops with the company you pay/hire.. in this case, people hired AT&T to handle their communications needs and that's where the buck stops.