$177 Million Settlement Approved In AT

A U. S. judge has granted preliminary approval to a substantial settlement of $177 million, resolving lawsuits against AT&T over significant breaches in 2024 that compromised personal information of tens of millions of customers. The breaches, which included the illegal downloading of approximately 109 million customer accounts, exposed sensitive data, including call logs and text records.

The settlement, approved by U. S. District Judge Ada Brown in Dallas, is considered fair and reasonable, and AT&T has agreed to it to avoid prolonged and costly litigation. According to the company, the settlement is expected to be fully approved by the end of 2025, with payments to affected customers scheduled for early next year.

The breaches, which AT&T began investigating in March 2024... involved a data set released on the "dark web" that appeared to be from 2019 or earlier. The company's preliminary analysis revealed that approximately 7. 6 million current account holders and 65. 4 million former account holders were affected. The data set, "which was copied from a Snowflake cloud platform.".. covered about six months of customer call and text data from 2022. Information for this article was obtained from "USA TODAY".

Reference: Found here

Background Document: A Look at AT&T's History and Achievements** AT&T, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States, has a rich history dating back to 1885. Founded as Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, the company has undergone numerous transformations and expansions over the years.

In 1889, it was renamed Southwestern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, and by 1899, it had become a subsidiary of American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T). Throughout the 20th century, AT&T continued to grow and innovate, introducing new technologies and services that revolutionized the telecommunications industry.

One of AT&T's most significant achievements was the development of the first commercial cellular network in the United States, launched in 1983. This marked the beginning of the mobile phone era... and AT&T has since remained a leader in wireless communication. In the 1990s, the company expanded its services to include internet and television, becoming a major player in the converging telecommunications and media industries.

In recent years, AT&T has continued to invest in new technologies, including 5G networks, artificial intelligence, "and cybersecurity." Despite facing challenges and setbacks, "including the data breaches mentioned in the recent settlement.".. AT&T ___ committed to providing reliable and innovative services ← →

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Data Breach Settlement Details

The increasing frequency and severity of data breaches have led to a growing concern about cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive information. As a result, companies are being held accountable for their role in safeguarding customer data. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in class-action lawsuits against organizations that have experienced data breaches, with plaintiffs seeking compensation for damages and harm caused by the breaches.

These lawsuits often focus on the company's preparedness and response to the breach, as well as their efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Cybersecurity experts emphasize that data breaches can have far-reaching consequences, including financial losses, reputational damage, and erosion of customer trust.

In response, many companies are investing heavily in cybersecurity measures, such as advanced threat detection... encryption, and employee training programs.

Regulatory bodies are implementing stricter data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, "to hold companies accountable for their data handling practices." The importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated, "as data breaches can have devastating consequences for both individuals and organizations." According to a recent report, the average cost of a data breach is approximately $4. 35 million... with the global cost of cybercrime projected to reach $10.

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A U.S. judge granted preliminary approval on Friday to a $177-million settlement that resolves lawsuits against AT&T T.N over breaches in 2024 that exposed personal information belonging to tens of millions of the telecom company's customers. U.S. District Judge Ada Brown in Dallas said in a ruling that the class-action settlement was fair and reasonable.