Friday, October 2, 2015

Experian hack lifts 15 million T-Mobile files: CEO John Legere 'incredibly angry'

A two-year data hack of Experian credit agency has left an estimated 15 million T-Mobile customers in the lurch, their personal and private information compromised and stolen.

"Obviously, I am incredibly angry about this data breach and we will institute a thorough review of our relationship with Experian," T-Mobile CEO John Legere said in a letter to consumers. "I take our customer and prospective customer privacy VERY seriously."

Legere said the data breach hit at both existing and newly enrolled T-Mobile customers who filled out applications for service – and who then received credit checks through Experian – between September 1, 2013, and September 16, 2015.

The stolen information includes names, addresses and birth dates, as well as encrypted data collected for identification purposes, like Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers and passport numbers.

"Experian has determined that this encryption may have been compromised," Legere wrote.

He also said his "top concern and first focus is assisting any and all consumers affected" and to "assure our customers that neither T-Mobile's systems nor network were part of this intrusion."

Legere also said the hack didn't steal payment card numbers of bank account information.

"Experian has assured us that they have taken aggressive steps to improve the protection of their system and of our data," Legere said.

He also offered those with concerns the option to receive two years worth of free credit monitoring at www.protectmyID.com/securityincident.

Experian, meanwhile, said in its own company press release its agents were "in the process of notifying consumers that may be affected" and so far, "there is not evidence to date that the data has been used inappropriately."

Chief executive Craig Boundy said: "We take privacy very seriously and we understand that this news is both stressful and frustrating. We sincerely apologize for the concern and stress that this event may cause."

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