T-Mobile confirms biggest phone customer data breach

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

I assume UK issue

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tom Yates <tom () yates me uk>
Date: November 18, 2009 6:56:35 AM EST
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Poss. for IP: T-Mobile confirms biggest phone customer data breach

Prof. Farber:

This just in from today's Guardian:

Personal details of thousands of mobile phone customers have been stolen and sold to rival firms in the biggest data 
breach of its kind, the government's privacy watchdog said today.

An employee of phone operator T-Mobile sold the customer records, including details of when contracts expired. The 
millions of items of information were sold on for "substantial sums", the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said. 
Rival networks and mobile phone retailers then tried to lure away T-Mobile customers by "cold calling".

The commissioner's office is pushing for stronger powers to halt the unlawful trade in personal data, which is growing 
due to cut-throat competition among mobile phone companies. They pay hefty commissions to anyone signing up customers 
to contracts lasting up to two years.

Full story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/nov/17/t-mobile-phone-data-privacy


-- 

   Tom Yates  -  tom () yates me uk




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