The digital world is advancing rapidly, but so are cyberattacks. More and more users are demanding greater protection from their companies. After a year to forget, AT&T has decided to take a step forward.
During 2023, the operator suffered two major data breaches. One of them exposed confidential information of more than 70 million customers. The other compromised calls and messages through its cloud in Snowflake.
Millions of customers were left vulnerable
These security failures left users more exposed than ever. Identity theft and fraud became daily risks. AT&T even had to face several class action lawsuits over what happened.
As a temporary measure, it offered affected customers a free year of protection with IdentityWorks. This service, from Experian, included credit monitoring and fraud detection. But that solution had an expiration date.
The new blocking feature is free and very easy to activate
Now, the operator has launched something more permanent. AT&T announced wireless account blocking, a free feature to strengthen security. It can be activated with a single click from the myAT&T app.
With this tool, key changes to the account are blocked. For example, billing updates, number transfers, or SIM changes are disabled. It also prevents new lines or unauthorized users from being added.
The measure is not just for contract customers. Similar versions have also been activated for business and prepaid lines. This way, AT&T is strengthening its entire network against new threats.
AT&T is back in the spotlight
The decision comes after another recent scandal. Just weeks ago, hackers leaked data from 86 million users. The information appeared on dark web forums.
The company stated that the data are the same as those leaked in March 2023. Even so, the reputational damage was once again on the table. AT&T has been forced to provide public explanations.
"We are conducting a thorough investigation," said the operator. They also pointed out that it's not unusual for cybercriminals to resell old leaks. But the impact remains concerning for its customers.
A context of growing risk
The breaches are not an isolated problem. According to the Identity Theft Research Center, in just six months, the number of victims in the US surpassed one billion (1,000,000,000) in 2024. This represents an increase of 490% compared to the same period the previous year.
In that scenario, AT&T's new feature arrives as a necessity. Not only to protect data, but to regain lost trust. Everything indicates that, for now, Verizon and other rivals have fallen behind.