AT&T Data Breach: What Affected Customers of This $13 Million Class Action Should Know

The infamous AT&T leak, also known as the ATT data breach, has made a lot of people worried about the safety of their information, and rightly so.

You see, in today’s world, online companies whose services you use store your personal information, like your name, address, and even your Social Security number.

AT&T is a giant phone company, and many people rely on it for their phone and internet services. But recently, something went wrong. Just like Verizon, they have faced legal issues.

Hackers got access to the private data of many AT&T customers. Because of this serious problem, affected customers came together to file a class action lawsuit.

Things got really out of hand, and as a result, AT&T agreed to pay $13 million to customers who were victims of this breach.

But what were the allegations? And what are some of the things that you can do if you face a similar situation? And MOST importantly, can you still file a claim?

Hi. In today’s blog, I will be talking about some of these things. So, if you have been an AT&T customer and want to know some of the most important things about data privacy and legality, you have come to the right place.

Therefore, keep on reading till the end and thank me later…

About the AT&T Data Breach

Before I start talking about the allegations and the settlement, let me first talk about the AT&T data breach.

So, for those living under the rock, a data breach occurs when a person who should not have access to private information finds a way to do so.

Due to this breach, hackers were able to steal the details of AT&T’s customers. These details included complete names, Social Security numbers (like identity numbers in the USA), birth dates, and other personal information.

This type of data is highly important to hackers since they can use it to steal someone’s identity or/and commit fraud.

The breach happened in April 2024, but the company only made it public in July. On July 12, 2024, AT&T said that the disclosure of their breach did not include any personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers.

AT&T gave more information about the occurrence in an 8-K filing. And that is not the only thing!

The FBI stated that in evaluating the nature of the breach, all parties decided to have a potential delay in the public reporting of this incident. This was mainly due to possible risks to national security and/or public safety.

It got even worse when the data was put online and hackers uploaded it to the so-called “dark web.” That is a part of the internet where criminals do illegal things, e.g., selling stolen databases.

The attack really affected a large number of people, and they hardly knew they were at risk of information leak until it was too late. When people got to know about this, it shocked and terrified them!

Understanding the AT&T Data Breach Lawsuit

Many people filed lawsuits against AT&T because of this monstrous mistake. As the number of people that this data breach affected was 70 million or more, they combined and filed a class action lawsuit.

Furthermore, those of you who read my previous blogs are aware that these kinds of cases are brought to court on behalf of the entire community impacted by the same company.

This lawsuit aimed to blame AT&T for failing to protect their clients’ data. The lawsuit claimed that AT&T did not take enough measures to prevent hackers from accessing the data.

Furthermore, they did not take any measures to inform customers about the breach as soon as possible.

Moreover, you should note that AT&T, in the long run, chose to settle the lawsuit for $13 million only. This way, they did not say they were guilty.

However, they admitted that they would pay money to resolve the case and give those affected the necessary assistance.

Major Allegations in the ATT Data Breach

When there’s a legal case, people would obviously want to know about what are some of the major allegations of the lawsuit.

These are the allegations that people made:

• Negligence: The accusation was that AT&T mishandled the personal data of their customers. Just like no one would go to bed without properly locking the door to avoid possible robbers, companies shouldn’t leave their computer systems without a guard.
• Delay in Informing Clients: AT&T kept the public unaware by not disclosing the data breach on time. The longer the hackers waited, the more they could make use of the data without anyone detecting them.
• Lack of Proper Data Security: According to the data breach lawsuit, AT&T did not implement strong security tools (such as security software and data encryption) to protect against the hackers’ invasion.
• Psychological and Financial Damage: The affected people believed that the data breach was the cause of their stress, worry, and, in some cases, loss of their money. Picture yourself finding out that someone stole your name and Social Security number. It is scary, and the recovery is going to be costly and time taking.

Who Were Victims in the ATT Data Breach?

The attackers’ success was at the expense of roughly 73 million current and former AT&T clients. That amount of people is quite more than only several of the smallest countries!

The holders of AT&T services from the old days are also victims. This is due to the fact that firms often keep the information about their past customers for a long time.

Now, let’s say that you have put an end to your service years ago. Even if that’s the case, they still might have your personal details stored on their servers.

If you received a letter or an e-mail from AT&T informing you that your data was among the breached ones, then you are one of the affected persons.

Most likely, a person who fell into that category could have been part of the lawsuit. These types of cases often automatically contain eligible people.

Settlement Details of AT&T Data Breach

The settlement in this case is worth $13 million. That’s the total amount AT&T agreed to pay to help the people. Here’s how it works:

• Eligible customers can claim money: If your information was part of this breach, you may be able to get a piece of this money.
• Claim amount: The amount you get depends on how badly this breach affected you and how many people file a claim. Some people may get a few hundred dollars to help cover things like credit monitoring or identity theft protection.
• Free credit monitoring: Many people will also get services that help keep an eye on their credit. This helps them in making sure that nobody is using (read: misusing) their stolen information.
• Deadline to file: There’s usually a deadline to submit your claim. If you don’t apply by that date, you might not get anything.
• No need to prove major loss: Even if you didn’t lose money, you might still qualify for a payment because your private data was exposed.

So, if you are a victim of this data breach case, it’s important to follow the instructions from the settlement website. Besides, you can also try following the instructions that you saw on the notice you received from AT&T.

What Legal Actions Can You Take If You Face a Similar Situation?

Now that you are aware of what the ATT data breach is all about, you might be interested to know something. And in most cases it is about what are the things one can do if they are in a similar situation.

Well, if you or your company faces a data breach and data leak where you lose your personal information, there are a few things that you can do.

Some of them are as follows:

• File a complaint: You can report the breach to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state attorney general.
• Join a class action lawsuit: If others are also affected, a lawyer might file a group lawsuit on your behalf. You don’t have to go to court yourself. You’ll just be one of the many people the case is fighting for.
• Talk to a lawyer: If you’ve suffered specific damages— like identity theft or lost money— a lawyer can help you take personal legal action.
• Protect yourself: Sign up for credit monitoring services. Place fraud alerts or freezes on your credit report. This stops thieves from opening accounts in your name.
• Keep records: Save any emails, letters, or messages about the breach. Write down dates and details if your identity was used in a crime or if you had to spend money to fix things.

You have rights, and the law can protect you — but you have to take action.

Which Lawyer Can Help You In Such Cases?

When someone steals your data, you need a lawyer who understands privacy laws, data protection, and class action lawsuits. These lawyers specialize in helping people who have had their personal information leaked or misused by big companies.

Here’s what to look for in a lawyer:

• Experience in data breach cases: They should have worked on similar cases before.
• Class action experience: These lawsuits are complex, and not every lawyer can handle them.
• Free consultation: Many good lawyers offer a free chat where they listen to your case. Additionally, they tell you if it’s worth pursuing.
• No-win, no-fee option: You only need to pay some lawyers if they win a settlement amount for you. This makes it easier for you to take action without paying upfront.

You can find these lawyers by searching online or asking your local bar association. Moreover, you can also try checking websites that list class action cases. The right lawyer will guide you, protect your rights, and help you get compensation if the company made a mistake.

Read Also:

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