African cell big MTN Group introduced {that a} cybersecurity incident has compromised the private data of a few of its subscribers in sure international locations.
MTN Group (previously M-Cell) is Africa’s largest cell community operator, with a powerful Asian market presence. The corporate has practically 300 million subscribers throughout 20 international locations and an annual income surpassing $11 billion.
The telecom big famous that its community and billing methods weren’t impacted by the assault, although an investigation to find out the precise scope and impression is ongoing.
“MTN Group wish to inform stakeholders that it has skilled a cybersecurity incident that resulted in unauthorised entry to non-public data of some MTN clients in sure markets,” reads the announcement.
“Our core community, billing methods, and monetary companies infrastructure stay safe and totally operational.”
Nonetheless, MTN says that an ‘unknown third-party’ claims to have accessed knowledge from the corporate.
Relating to these claims, the telecom agency notes that its investigation hasn’t confirmed a compromise to buyer wallets and accounts, so it is unclear precisely what has been uncovered.
MTN says it has knowledgeable the South African Police and its nation’s related regulatory and knowledge safety authorities to assist its investigations. Affected clients can even be notified quickly.
In the meantime, MTN advises clients to comply with these measures to guard themselves from assaults:
- Place a fraud alert in your credit score report through any main credit score bureau.
- Maintain MTN, MoMo, and banking apps/gadgets up to date.
- Use sturdy, distinctive passwords and alter them often.
- Keep away from clicking on suspicious or sudden messages/hyperlinks.
- By no means share passwords, PINs, or OTPs through telephone, textual content, or electronic mail.
- Allow multifactor authentication wherever doable.
On the time of writing, no ransomware actors have claimed duty for an assault at MTN.
BleepingComputer has contacted the African telecommunication companies supplier to ask which markets have been impacted, however we’re nonetheless ready for a response.
