Airtel Denies Data Breach Claims, Cybersecurity Tips Inside
There is a buzz on Twitter and hacker forums that the data of 375 million Airtel users is being sold. However, Airtel says this is not true. The company believes that the hacker claiming to have their user data is just trying to trick people. They strongly deny any breach in their system.
An Airtel spokesperson told India Today Tech, “A report has claimed that Airtel customer data has been compromised. However, this is merely an attempt to damage Airtel’s reputation. After a thorough investigation, we can confirm that there has been no breach of Airtel’s systems.”
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The excitement started when a Twitter account called FalconFeeds.ai posted a screenshot from a forum. In the screenshot, a hacker named xenZen was selling the data of 375 million Airtel users. The post appeared on BeachForums, a place where people often trade stolen data.
According to the Beachforum post, the data includes the following:
– Mobile numbers
– Names
– Dates of birth
– Father’s name
– Addresses
– Email IDs
– Gender and nationality
– Aadhaar numbers
– Photo ID proof details
– Address proof details
While it is not clear whether the hacker really has the data of 375 million Airtel customers, security researchers believe it is true. Cybersecurity expert Nicholas Crassus of Henkel AG retweeted the information about the possibility of Airtel data theft.
Srinivas Kodali, a cybersecurity expert in India, shared his opinion on Twitter. He wrote, “Airtel has been hacked by a China-based hacker. This hacker has put up for sale the data of 375 million Airtel customers, including their Aadhaar numbers. The hacker has now been banned from the forum where the data was listed. India’s Data Protection Act is still not active.”
Although Airtel says its systems were not hacked, it is still important for everyone, whether you use Airtel or not, to know that data of Indian companies has been leaked before. Even if you are not affected this time, it is a good idea to follow some basic cyber-security tips:
- Change passwords often: Update passwords for all your online accounts regularly, especially those linked to any compromised email addresses.
- Monitor accounts: Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements to spot any unauthorized transactions.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Use 2FA to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts.
- Beware of phishing attempts: Do not click on suspicious links or give out personal information to unverified sources.
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