Ensuring privacy and security is a key expectation from your mobile provider. Multiple data breaches at T-Mobile from 2021 to January of this year impacted over 130 million customers, exposing their personal information like addresses, dates of birth, and even Social Security numbers.
T-Mobile has reached a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over these data breaches. They are facing $15.75 million in fines and investing an additional $15.75 million in infrastructure upgrades to enhance cybersecurity. The settlement also includes actionable steps that T-Mobile must take.
The Chief Information Security Officer at T-Mobile is mandated to provide periodic reports to the FCC on the company’s cybersecurity status, ensuring that cybersecurity remains a top priority for T-Mobile going forward.
Additionally, T-Mobile has agreed to implement a “zero trust” approach, dividing their networks into segmented sections that require authentication to move between. This approach ensures that nothing is trusted by default and authorization is necessary at every step.
Another commitment T-Mobile has made is to enforce multi-factor authentication throughout its network. This extra layer of security can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches by making it harder for unauthorized users to gain access to accounts, even if they have all the necessary information.
This settlement is a significant victory for T-Mobile customers, as it will improve data security and focus on preventing future breaches. The actions taken by the FCC should have a lasting impact, coupled with the $15.75 million investment in cybersecurity enhancements to reinforce any vulnerabilities.
