Technology

Ransomware attack impacts 237,000 Comcast customers

Published

1 hour ago

October 9, 2024

Ransomware attack impacts 237,000 Comcast customers

U.S. telecom giant Comcast as well as Truist Bank and Capio & CF Medical are the latest companies to be hit with a data leak, but it’s not their fault. The data leak stems from the Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS) breach in February. Some 237,000 Comcast customers’ personal information was exposed, including people’s names, addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates as well as Comcast account and ID numbers.

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Comcast is a major cable and internet provider. (Comcast)

What you need to know

A data breach has exposed the names, addresses, Social Security numbers and birth dates of more than 237,700 Comcast customers, according to a filing with the state of Maine on Friday, as reported by BleepingComputer. The breach stems from a security incident at Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS), a Pennsylvania-based debt collection agency previously used by Comcast.

FBCS first informed Comcast in March that the security incident did not involve any customer data. However, in July, FBCS notified the telecom giant that its customer data had, in fact, been compromised, stating that an “unauthorized party downloaded data from FBCS systems and encrypted some systems as part of a ransomware attack.”

The stolen data belongs to customers who signed up “around 2021,” Comcast says, adding that it stopped using FBCS for debt collection in 2020. FBCS hasn’t shared the details of its security incident yet, but Comcast’s filing confirms it was a ransomware attack, a type of cyberattack where hackers hold the data and demand a ransom to either delete it or give it back.

Ransomware after data breaches are becoming more common. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MASSIVE FREE VPN DATA BREACH EXPOSES 360 MILLION RECORDS

The FBCS attack that started it all

As I reported back in June, the FBCS cyberattack happened on Feb. 14 when hackers accessed the company’s systems. FBCS didn’t realize there had been a breach until Feb. 26, and when it did, it described the incident as “unauthorized access to certain systems in its network.”

Initially, the company estimated that around 1.9 million people were affected, but that number jumped to 4 million in June 2024. The data breach leaked a massive amount of consumer information, including full names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and driver’s license or ID card numbers.

Since FBCS provides services to multiple companies, their customers’ data got mixed up in the leak. So, even if you have nothing to do with FBCS, your info might still be out there. Along with Comcast, Truist Bank – one of the largest banks in the U.S. – and CF Medical, a medical debt-purchasing company known as Capio, have also been affected. As a result of this incident, Comast is offering credit monitoring for one year to customers who were affected.

HERE’S WHAT RUTHLESS HACKERS STOLE FROM 110 MILLION AT&T CUSTOMERS

6 ways to protect yourself from data breaches

If you’ve been affected by the Comcast breach, follow these steps to protect your personal data and privacy.

1) Invest in identity theft protection: If you think your personal data has been leaked, scammers may try to impersonate you to gain access to your private information. The best thing you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft service.

Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

2) Place a fraud alert: If you suspect you are a victim, contact the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert to be placed on your credit file. This will make it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name without verification. Comcast is offering a year of free credit monitoring for those who may have been impacted through data breach response firm CyEx.

3) Be cautious of phishing attempts: Be vigilant about emails, phone calls or messages from unknown sources asking for personal information. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing sensitive details unless you can verify the legitimacy of the request. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

4) Check Social Security benefits: It is crucial to periodically check your Social Security benefits to ensure they have not been tampered with or altered in any way, safeguarding your financial security and preventing potential fraud.

5) Beware of snail mail: With all the data leaks happening, it’s more important than ever to keep an eye on your physical mail. Hackers can get their hands on sensitive information, and that can lead to identity theft or fraud. Be on the lookout for any unexpected letters or packages, especially if they ask for personal info or seem suspicious.

6) Invest in a data removal service: Consider using a data removal service that specializes in eliminating your personal information from online databases and people-search websites. These services can help reduce your digital footprint and make it more difficult for identity thieves to access your information. By proactively removing your data from public view, you can enhance your privacy and security in the wake of a breach like the one experienced by Comcast.

These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here .

WORLD’S LARGEST STOLEN PASSWORD DATABASE UPLOADED TO CRIMINAL FORUM

Kurt’s key takeaway

The FBCS data breach affected Comcast, Truist and CF Medical, and these are just the names we know of. The total number of affected users is above four million, which means we might hear of more companies whose customers’ data has been leaked due to FBCS. Since it’s a ransomware attack, FBCS might have to pay the hackers a hefty ransom to get the data back or deleted; otherwise, it could end up in the hands of dark web scammers and other data aggregators.

Do you think companies like FBCS should be held accountable for breaches that affect their clients’ customers? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Our favorite deals under $50 from Amazon’s October Prime Day sale

Published

51 mins ago

October 9, 2024

Press Room

Our favorite deals under from Amazon’s October Prime Day sale

We’re on day two of Amazon’s second Prime Day event of the year, the Prime Big Deal Days running through October 9th. While the naming convention might be terrible, the sale isn’t. In fact, many of our favorite gadgets and goods are receiving notable discounts right now, which we’ve highlighted in our larger roundup of the best Prime Day deals. However, if you’re looking to stick to a budget, here’s where you’ll find our top picks under $50.

We’ll be updating this post as Amazon’s latest Prime Day event rolls on, but in the meantime, feel free to use the table to dig below to dig into your desired category.

Update, October 9th: Updated to reflect current pricing and availability. Also added a few new deals, including those for the Epicka universal travel adapter and the Oontz Solo speaker.

Technology

Apple’s Vision Pro leader, Dan Riccio, is retiring

Published

8 hours ago

October 9, 2024

Press Room

Apple’s Vision Pro leader, Dan Riccio, is retiring

Dan Riccio, a long-time Apple executive formerly in charge of hardware, is retiring from the company this month, Bloomberg reports.

Riccio has been with Apple for 26 years and oversaw some of the company’s most successful new hardware, including the AirPods, the iPad Pro, and large iPhones, as Bloomberg notes. He also headed up projects such as the Apple Car, which never came to be, and the Vision Pro, which has struggled to gain much of a foothold.

He was replaced as SVP of hardware engineering — a role he’d had since 2012 — by John Ternus in 2021. At the time, he was said to be taking over an unspecified “new project” that ultimately turned out to be the company’s VR headset. Now, the Vision Products Group will be under the purview of Ternus, who has been rumored as a candidate to replace CEO Tim Cook in the future.

Technology

Fox News AI Newsletter: Creepy yet helpful robot is ready to assist

Published

9 hours ago

October 9, 2024

Press Room

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

– Pioneers of AI win Nobel Prize in physics for laying the groundwork of machine learning

– Uber is shifting to EV, and AI will assist drivers making the change

– Expert warns UN’s role in AI regulation could lead to safety overreach

– NEO Beta: A home-use humanoid robot with advanced features for safety and personalized help

This photo combo shows the 2024 Nobel Prize winners in Physics, professor John Hopfield, left, of Princeton University, and professor Geoffrey Hinton, of the University of Toronto, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Princeton University via AP and Noah Berger/AP Photo)

FOUNDATIONAL WORK: Two pioneers of artificial intelligence — John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton — won the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for helping to create the building blocks of machine learning that are revolutionizing the way we work and live, but also create new threats for humanity.

UBER EV: Ride-sharing platform Uber on Tuesday announced that the company is taking new steps to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) on its platform.

An interior view of an Uber car with the Uber Connect application. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

‘BETTER JOB’: The United Nations (U.N.) advisory body on artificial intelligence (AI) last week issued seven recommendations to address AI-related risks, but an expert told Fox News Digital the points do not cover critical areas of concern.

MOVE-IN READY: Are you ready to have a humanoid robot in your home that could help with everyday tasks and make life just a little bit easier? Well, get ready to meet NEO Beta. This innovative humanoid robot from 1X Technologies, an OpenAI-backed Norwegian firm, is designed specifically for home environments, and it’s about to change the way we interact with technology in our daily lives.

NEO Beta humanoid robot (1X Technologies)

Subscribe now to get the Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter in your inbox.

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This article was written by Fox News staff.