T-Mobile’s breach: your carrier holds your identity
Data on tens of millions of people, including ID numbers, was stolen. Lock your mobile account and credit.
T-Mobile confirmed this month that attackers stole data on more than 40 million current, former and prospective customers: names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and driver’s licence details for many.
Your mobile carrier matters more than it seems. Your phone number receives login codes and password resets. With your ID details, a criminal can try to move your number to their SIM.
What to do, especially if you’re a T-Mobile customer:
- Set a PIN or passcode on your mobile account, and turn on number-transfer protection if offered.
- Move important accounts away from SMS codes to an authenticator app or security key.
- Freeze your credit if you’re in the US. It’s free and stops new accounts in your name.
- Watch for phishing that mentions the breach. Fake “compensation” messages always follow.