Malware
Massive Verizon Data Breach Exposes 63,000+ Employees: Insider Threat Unleashed
A recent Verizon insider data breach has exposed the personal information of over 63,000 employees. The breach, which was discovered by cybersecurity firm UpGuard, was caused by a misconfigured Amazon S3 storage server. Data exposed includes names, addresses, and salary information, raising concerns about the potential for identity theft and targeted phishing attacks.
Imagine waking up one day to find out that your personal information, including your name, address, and even your Social Security number, has been exposed. Now imagine that this happened not because of some sophisticated cyberattack, but because a fellow employee at your company gained unauthorized access to your sensitive data. Well, that’s exactly what happened at Verizon Communications, a major American telecommunications company with over 150 million subscribers and 117,000 employees.
Details of the Verizon Data Breach
On September 21, 2023, a Verizon employee managed to access a file containing sensitive information about 63,206 employees. This unauthorized access went unnoticed until December 12, 2023, almost three months later. The exposed data varies per employee but could include:
- Full name
- Physical address
- Social Security number (SSN)
- National ID
- Gender
- Union affiliation
- Date of birth
- Compensation information
Thankfully, it appears that customer information was not impacted by this breach.
Verizon’s Response and Future Plans
After discovering the breach, Verizon has been actively working to strengthen its internal security to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The company has stated that there are no signs of malicious exploitation or evidence of the data having been widely leaked. In their data breach notification, Verizon said, “At this time, we have no evidence that this information has been misused or shared outside of Verizon as a result of this issue.” They are also notifying applicable regulators about the matter.
To help mitigate the risks posed by this security incident, Verizon has provided instructions on enrolling in a two-year identity theft protection and credit monitoring service for impacted employees.
When we reached out to Verizon to inquire if this incident had been referred to law enforcement, their spokesman, Rich Young, stated, “We have not referred this incident to law enforcement. There is no indication of malicious intent nor do we believe the information was shared externally.”
Previous Verizon Cybersecurity Incidents
Before this breach, Verizon had enjoyed a relatively calm period regarding cybersecurity incidents. Their last major incident occurred in October 2022, when hackers attempted to perform SIM swaps to hijack customer accounts. Although Verizon managed to block the activity and reverse unauthorized changes, sensitive customer information was still exposed.
A Call to Strengthen Security Measures
This incident serves as a stark reminder that even large corporations like Verizon are not immune to insider threats. No matter the size or industry of your company, it is crucial to have robust security measures in place to protect both your employees’ and customers’ sensitive information. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take action.
If you’re concerned about your own company’s security measures and want to learn more about how to protect your data, feel free to contact us for expert advice. And don’t forget to keep coming back for more insights and updates on the latest cybersecurity news and trends.