Hello, The U.S. telecommunications giant AT&T has just announced that months of phone records of “nearly all” of its 110 million customers – and anyone they interacted with – have been stolen by hackers.1So what does this mean for those outside the U.S.? Weak or nonexistent privacy laws in one part of the world can make everyone vulnerable. In 2022 alone there were over 1,800 data breaches in the U.S. affecting 400 million people worldwide. A lack of privacy protections in large and influential markets – like the United States – puts us all at risk. Mozilla works to make the internet safe, private, and trustworthy for all of us, worldwide – and in the wake of this AT&T data breach, Mozilla’s work has never been more important. Together we are building a movement to put people in control of their data and their online experiences. That movement is made possible by grassroots donations from people like you, and today is a crucial time to show you stand with Mozilla. Please make a $10 USD contribution to Mozilla today if you are ready to protect our privacy online and take on companies with irresponsible data practices. Donate $10 USD → Here’s what we know so far about the AT&T data breach in the U.S.: What’s been stolen: Phone and text message records, including which phone numbers a customer has called and texted, the total number of calls or texts made, and the duration of these calls. Location data: Worryingly, the location data of some customers has also been stolen – via cell site identification numbers, which potentially reveals a user’s location during calls and texts. Timeframe of the breach: The stolen data is mostly from a six-month period from May 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022. AT&T has been aware of this hack since 19 April, and say they have been working with law enforcement before going public. But ultimately this breach puts everyone who is – or who communicates with – an AT&T customer at risk. Large multinational corporations are able to harvest our data in a way that is largely unregulated in the United States – and then when data breaches occur, it is individual users who are put at risk and must bear the consequences. The consequences of this hack are wide-ranging and frankly, pretty scary – especially in a world of AI, where scammers and others with malign intentions have a dangerous arsenal of tools like AI voice generation at their disposal.2 Together, we can – and must – work towards a future where everyone can be in control of their personal information. That is what the Mozilla community is all about, and that is why we are asking you one more time: Can you please make a $10 USD to Mozilla today to hold corporations accountable and protect our privacy online? Donate $10 USD → Thank you for all that you do for the internet. Michael Whitney
Director, Digital Engagement
Mozilla P.S. Mozilla is committed to making the internet safe for all of us. In case you have recently interacted with someone in the U.S. who is an AT&T customer, read our blog post to learn more about how you can protect yourself from the AT&T data breach. | | | AT&T Had a Huge Data Breach: Here’s What You Need to Know Hackers could use this information to try and impersonate family members, work colleagues, or even financial institutions to trick victims. Read more → |
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More Information: 1. Washington Post. AT&T says hackers stole call records of ‘nearly all’ wireless customers. 12 July 2024. 2. Mozilla's privacy researchers have more information about the consequences of the AT&T breach and tips for how to protect yourself. | 