Malware
Frontier Alerts 750,000 Customers of Data Breach Following Intense Extortion Threats
US internet service provider Frontier Communications has warned 750,000 customers of a potential data breach after extortion threats were received. The company is investigating the breach and has alerted the FBI, while customers are being offered free identity protection services.
Imagine you’re a Frontier Communications customer, and you just found out that your personal information was exposed in a data breach. You’re one of 750,000 customers affected by an April cyberattack carried out by the RansomHub ransomware operation. How would you feel? Your privacy has been invaded, and you’re now at risk for identity theft and other potential harm.
For those of you who may not know, Frontier is a major U.S. communications provider that delivers gigabit Internet speeds over a fiber-optic network to millions of consumers and businesses across 25 states. In mid-April 2024, the company fell victim to a cyberattack, which allowed hackers to access customers’ personal information stored on its systems.
According to the data breach notification sent to impacted customers, the breach exposed the full names and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) of 751,895 customers. Fortunately, no customer financial information was compromised in this incident.
Since discovering the breach, Frontier has informed regulatory authorities and implemented additional measures to strengthen its network security. Investigations on the incident’s impact are currently underway. Impacted clients are also being offered one year of free credit monitoring and identity theft services through Kroll.
Many Frontier customers reported that their Internet connection went down during the attack, and support phone numbers played prerecorded messages instead of connecting to a human operator. This shows the far-reaching effects of a cyberattack on both individuals and businesses.
Who’s Behind the Attack?
RansomHub, an extortion group, claimed responsibility for the attack on Frontier earlier this week. They added Frontier Communications to their extortion portal on the dark web, threatening to leak 5GB of data allegedly stolen during the attack, containing the information of 2 million customers.
The group has given Frontier until June 14 to respond to their demands, or they will sell the data to the highest bidder. This leaves Frontier customers vulnerable to potential scams and identity theft.
RansomHub was recently exposed as a likely buyer of the Knight ransomware source code, but they rarely use encryption in their attacks, typically limiting the scope to data-theft-based extortion. In the case of Frontier Communications, there’s no mention of encryption or reports about service outages apart from those linked to the containment measures in mid-April.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
If you are a Frontier customer, it is essential to take precautions to protect your personal information. Here are some steps you can take:
- Treat unsolicited communications with caution and avoid sharing information with people you don’t know.
- Reset your account passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
- Monitor your bank statements for suspicious activity.
It’s crucial to stay vigilant and proactive in protecting your personal information from cyber criminals. While companies like Frontier are continually working to improve their cybersecurity measures, it’s ultimately up to each of us to take responsibility for our own safety in the digital world.
If you want to learn more about protecting yourself from cyberattacks and staying informed about the latest cybersecurity news, we encourage you to keep coming back to IT Services. We’re here to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity and provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to stay safe online.