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CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Breaking Announcement from T-Mobile to Its Customers in the United States: Confirmed!

The Company Offers Million-Dollar Compensation to Its Customers After a Shocking Episode

In an increasingly digitalized world, cyberattacks are a constant threat, and recently, T-Mobile has suffered a serious security incident. A massive cyberattack exposed the personal data of millions of customers in the United States, which has led the company to offer financial compensation to those affected.

T-Mobile, like other large companies, has been involved in class-action lawsuits due to this data breach. Although this is not the first case of a massive leak, the company's response is a step toward reparation. Despite this, the compensation doesn't completely erase the consequences of this information theft.

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Company Establishment | T-Mobile

T-Mobile's Multimillion-Dollar Settlement to solve Lawsuits

The attack, which occurred in August 2021, affected 76 million T-Mobile customers in the United States. The compromised data includes names, addresses, phone numbers, and even Social Security numbers, representing a serious risk to personal security. In response, the company signed a $350M settlement to solve the lawsuits of those affected.

T-Mobile, although it did not admit direct responsibility, agreed to this compensation following criticism of its handling of information security. The company argued that there was no negligence on its part, but those affected believe that adequate measures were not taken to protect their data. This settlement is one of the most costly in history, reflecting how expensive it can be for a company to fail in protecting its customers' information.

Compensation for Those Affected: How Much Will They Receive?

The customers affected by the leak could receive compensation depending on their situation. The possibilities include:

Payment for Economic Losses: If you suffered fraud or identity theft due to the leak, you could receive up to $25,000 in reimbursements.

Payment for Lost Time: If you spent time solving the problems caused, such as dealing with fraud, you will receive a payment of $25 per hour.

Compensation for Time Off Work: If you had to miss work due to the attack, you will be paid according to your regular hourly wage.

Customers in California: Those who lived in California on August 1, 2021, may receive between $25 and $100, depending on their situation.

Although the total settlement amount is $350M, not all of that money will go to the customers. A portion will be used to cover legal fees and other trial expenses.

The Hacker Behind the Leak and the Consequences

The person responsible for this attack was the hacker John Binns, who accessed T-Mobile's systems in 2021. Binns, who lived in Türkiye, not only publicly bragged about his feat but also sold the stolen data on the dark web. According to him, T-Mobile's security was so weak that he did not have to make much effort to access the systems.

Binns offered the stolen data, which affected about 54 million customers, and went on to sell 30 million records for $270,000. His gain was short-lived, as he was arrested and prosecuted following extradition from Türkiye.

This attack highlights the vulnerability of security systems and the growing concern for digital privacy. Despite the financial compensations, the damage to users' trust and security will be much more difficult to repair.

➡️ Consumer Affairs

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