February 23, 2024 at 07:33AM
Telecommunications provider Tangerine revealed a recent cyberattack where the personal information of 230,000 individuals was stolen from a legacy customer database. The compromised data includes names, addresses, dates of birth, and contact details, but not credit card or banking information. The company is taking steps to prevent similar incidents and has initiated notifications to the affected individuals.
Based on the meeting notes, it is evident that Tangerine, an Australian telecommunications provider, experienced a significant data breach. The personal information of approximately 230,000 individuals was stolen in a cyberattack, compromising details such as names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, mobile phone numbers, and Tangerine account numbers. However, the company has affirmed that no credit or debit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, ID documentation details, banking details, or passwords were compromised in the incident.
The breach was discovered on February 20, two days after it occurred, and it was determined that the attackers gained access to a legacy customer database using the login credentials of a contractor. Tangerine took immediate steps to contain the incident by revoking network and system access for the compromised account, removing access to the compromised database, and changing all other team usernames and passwords. It’s important to note that Tangerine’s services and customer accounts, protected with multi-factor authentication, were not directly impacted by the breach.
The company began notifying the affected individuals on February 21, advising them to remain vigilant against scams and cyber issues while encouraging them to report any incidents they encounter. Tangerine’s CEO, Andrew Branson, expressed his disappointment over the incident and offered a sincere apology to the impacted customers. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to learn from this experience and implement necessary improvements to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Tangerine, established in 2014 and based in South Melbourne, offers NBN and mobile services across Australia. Additionally, it’s mentioned that the company has taken proactive measures in recent years to review and minimize the data it retains.