Tangerine, an Australian internet service provider, has experienced a significant data breach affecting over 200,000 customers. The breach, which occurred on February 18, led to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive customer information, including full names, dates of birth, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers. In response, Tangerine promptly notified affected customers via email, informing them of the breach and launching a comprehensive investigation into its cause.
While the breach has raised concerns about the security of personal data, Tangerine assures customers that no credit card or debit card numbers were compromised in the incident. Furthermore, the company emphasizes that sensitive information such as driver’s license numbers, ID documentation details, bank account details, and passwords remained secure. Tangerine attributes the breach to a legacy customer database and traces it back to the login credentials of a single user engaged by the company on a contract basis.
Tangerine’s chief executive, Andrew Branson, expressed disappointment over the incident and apologized to affected customers, highlighting the company’s commitment to customer security and its efforts to mitigate similar occurrences in the future. The company has engaged a cybersecurity specialist to investigate the breach and is advising customers to remain vigilant against potential phishing attempts. This data breach adds to a growing list of high-profile cyberattacks, underscoring the ongoing need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard personal information in an increasingly digital world.
