ADT confirms data breach: Customer personal information accessed
In this photo illustration, the ADT logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Home security maker ADT confirmed its computer systems were breached this week, exposing personal information about both its current customers and prospective ones.
What we know:
In a post on its website, ADT explained that its cybersecurity team detected the attack on Monday. The company stated that its investigation found the perpetrators mainly got names, phone numbers, and addresses. It added that dates of birth, the last four digits of a Social Security number or Tax IDs were included "in a small percentage of cases."
The company stated that no payment information was accessed, nor were customers’ security systems affected.
What we don't know:
ADT did not indicate how many individuals’ personal information may have been stolen, saying only that it was a limited set of customer and prospective customer data. The website Bleeping Computer reported that the group that claimed responsibility for the attack claimed they stole 10 million records.
What you can do:
ADT stated everyone whose information had been accessed has been notified, and the company plans to offer free identity protection as needed.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from ADT and Bleeping Computer. This story was reported from Orlando.