Should say as I always do, things like this won’t stop happening until all customer data is encrypted at rest and company C-suite occupants can be prosecuted or fined if they fail to protect customer data.
This is why you don’t give out your ssn even if a company asks for it.
I’m not a T-Mobile customer but after the various data breaches I’ve had my credit frozen for years.Fingers crossed I am not one of the ones affected. Good thing I have my credit frozen.
Sometimes you can. Telecom providers and utilities want the SSN to run a credit check, but some will waive that if you make a security deposit instead.Can you really decline their asking of SSN?
Nowadays the companies may deny you service if you don't supply all the information they want!
What perks? I get unlimited calls and texts. Way more high speed data than I ever use plus unlimited 3G after that. More tethering than I need plus unlimited 3G afterward. Free 5G upgrade (if I had a 5G phone to make use of it). I've had my prepaid plan for ten years. They just keep boosting the data allotments and speed without a single price increase or ever having to call them. I think I also have unlimited video (although I rarely watch anything on my phone).yea, but you usually don't get too many perks with prepaid plans.
christ, if you saw my post, you'd think you might have seen my response as well. here: i'm referring to things like netflix, kickback(grandfathered — no longer offered), 2g data + texting in s-ton of countries, and mexico&canada are free, not $5/mo. i'm sure there are more, but these should last you.What perks? I get unlimited calls and texts. Way more high speed data than I ever use plus unlimited 3G after that. More tethering than I need plus unlimited 3G afterward. Free 5G upgrade (if I had a 5G phone to make use of it). I've had my prepaid plan for ten years. They just keep boosting the data allotments and speed without a single price increase or ever having to call them. I think I also have unlimited video (although I rarely watch anything on my phone).
I look at the post paid plans every year from the major providers. With the same number of lines. I never see anything extra I have use for. Just an additional $400 to $600 per year in price.
Can you really decline their asking of SSN?
Nowadays the companies may deny you service if you don't supply all the information they want!
The law only requires that you give your ssn for loans, banking, health insurance, and a few other select applications. Any other time you’re asked for it you can refuse.You literally can't buy certain phones and plans without providing an SSN.
Great.. but, they would just refuse to sell you anything if you didn't provide it. Right? Most of the time an SSN is used for a loan on the phone in this case anyway.The law only requires that you give your ssn for loans, banking, health insurance, and a few other select applications. Any other time you’re asked for it you can refuse.
That is true.How could one ever prove that they were harmed by a data breach? When my bank accounts are compromised and identity stolen 6 months from now because someone retrieved my personal information from t-mobile, it will be very difficult if not impossible to link it to the company.
I hope you have 2FA turned on for your T-Mobile account.Aww s***, this sucks. T-Mobile needs to get it together. I've been a customer for several years now and their support has been pretty good, so I'm hopeful they'll do the right thing and help us all out. But their new CEO doesn't seem as good as the last one so I doubt it. I've already got someone in another state trying to hack my Amazon account right now so this has to be related.
A year? Most hackers know to wait at least a year when everyone lets down their guard before using all this data. Fraud monitoring should be provided for at least 10 years. But we know that will never happen considering even Equifax didn't provide much more than a couple of years of fraud monitoring after they were hacked.That’s totally unacceptable in this day and age. As a T-mobile customer for years now, this is really bad. Social Security numbers, phone numbers, names, physical addresses, IMEI numbers, and driver licenses information! What else? Mother’s Maiden Name? T-Mobile needs to pay for a years worth of fraud monitoring on every account stolen at the very least!
Probably a case of those that know they have breached, and those that have been breached but not yet figured it out.If the hacker was telling the truth, it sounds like the data was not properly hashed.
It is getting harder and harder to do business with a company that hasn't already had a breach.
Indeed. It is very frustrating to think I may have to worry about my identity etc. once again. (after the Equifax debacle).Probably a case of those that know they have breached, and those that have been breached but not yet figured it out.
Excellent post that people need to take heed.Credit report freezing is always a good security measure, as is preemptively setting up accounts with government agencies such as the IRS, the USPS, and the Social Security Administration. But there is another risk that mobile phone provider breaches intensify: SIM swapping. The types of customer information involved in the T-Mobile attack can make it easier for an attacker to take control of your mobile phone number.
So an important defensive action is to stop using text messages for 2-factor authentication as much as possible. It is better to use on-device code generators, such as Google Authenticator, or a hardware security key, such as YubiKey. For any websites or apps that only allow SMS 2FA, consider using either a landline number or a virtual phone number, such as Google Voice.
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Two resources for anybody interested in learning more:
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The Best Security Key for Multi-Factor Authentication
A physical security key helps you protect your online accounts, and Yubico still makes the best one.www.nytimes.com
...and an article that discusses previous T-Mobile breaches:
Not true in the case of T-Mobile. I’ve been using them for several years now. Started out on a prepaid plan. After a year or so of paying on time I switched to post paid and no ssn was required. Can get any phone or accessory for the same monthly price as one that provided an ssn.You literally can't buy certain phones and plans without providing an SSN.