Tangerine Telecom recently faced a significant cybersecurity incident, impacting 232,000 customers.
Incident Overview
The breach occurred when threat actors gained access to Tangerine Telecom’s legacy database (an outdated but still used system holding valuable data). Here’s how the breach unfolded step by step:
- The threat actor targeted Tangerine Telecom’s legacy database, which still had lots of valuable customer info.
- They obtained login credentials that were given to a contractor by Tangerine Telecom for legitimate access.
- Using these credentials, the threat actor bypassed the security measures that were supposed to protect the database.
- Once past security, they could see and steal the personal information of 232,000 customers from the legacy database.
Essentially, the breach occurred because a contractor’s login details were exploited. In this case, either the credentials were not adequately secured, or there were insufficient monitoring and control mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorised use of these credentials.
Type of Data Compromised
The database that was accessed by hackers included records from June 2019 to July 2023. A total of 232,000 customers were affected, with the following data being exposed:
- Full names
- Dates of birth
- Mobile and email addresses
- Postal addresses
- Account numbers
Risk Factor: Medium
Luckily, no financial or identity documents were leaked. However, the personal information that were leaked could lead to more sophisticated phishing schemes or identity theft.
Advice for Those Affected
Tangerine Telecom has already notified all affected individuals about the breach. If you’re one of them, you should have received a message regarding this incident. If you’ve received a message that you’ve been affected by the breach:
- Monitor your accounts for any unusual activity and new logins.
- Change your passwords, especially if you use the same password for multiple services. You can read our Password Guide for more information on how to choose the best passwords and keep them safe.
- consider setting up fraud alerts with your debit or credit card company. Remember that these companies will never ask for your details through SMS.
