T-Mobile Probes Possible Breach; Dish Wasn't Told

Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen hadn't heard from T-Mobile about any data breach, he told the Technology Policy Institute Monday. At around that same time, T-Mobile said it's investigating such claims and suggested a hack may have occurred. “We take the protection of our customers very seriously and we are conducting an extensive analysis alongside digital forensic experts to understand the validity of these claims, and we are coordinating with law enforcement,” the carrier emailed. “We have determined that unauthorized access to some T-Mobile data occurred, however we have not yet determined that there is any personal customer data involved. We are confident that the entry point used to gain access has been closed.” T-Mobile didn't immediately say if it subsequently communicated with Dish, which has prepaid wireless customers divested as part of T-Mobile's buying Sprint on the T-Mobile network. Speaking in Aspen, Colorado, Ergen noted there are about 9 million such customers. In general, such hacks “are too common” an occurrence, he said. Telecom networks are “particularly susceptible” to intrusions, Ergen said. “It's why the government is properly looking at Chinese vendors.” With Dish's wireless network construction, it's “trying to build [security] in on the front end,” Ergen said. “To the extent” a data break-in took place, he said, “we’ll have to deal with it.” Ergen also hopes to settle a 3G network phaseout issue with T-Mobile, he told TPI (see 2108160057). “The key is to work together” with government on cybersecurity, Ergen said. “We’ve asked for it. We’re open to help.” He likes “the partnership with government when it comes to security. We’re open to it, and we’re happy to share what we’re doing.”