Current:Home > MyXfinity hack affects nearly 36 million customers. Here's what to know.-InfoLens
Xfinity hack affects nearly 36 million customers. Here's what to know.
View Date:2024-12-23 16:01:25
A security breach at Comcast-owned Xfinity has exposed the personal data of nearly all the internet provider's customers, including account usernames, passwords and answers to their security questions.
Comcast said in a filing with Maine's attorney general's office that the hack affected 35.8 million people, with the media and technology giant notifying customers of the attack through its website and by email, the company said Monday. The intrusion stems from a vulnerability in software from cloud computing company Citrix, according to Comcast.
Although Citrix patched the vulnerability in October, Xfinity learned that unauthorized users gained access to its internal systems between Oct. 16 and Oct. 19, revealing customer data. For some people, that included their names, contact information, account usernames and passwords, birthdates, parts of their Social Security numbers and answers to their security questions.
In addition to Xfinity, Citrix provides software to thousands of companies around the world. The previously-announced vulnerability, dubbed "Citrix Bleed," has also been linked to hacks targeting the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's New York arm and a Boeing subsidiary, among others.
Under new federal rules that took effect Monday, the Securities Exchange Commission requires public companies to disclose all cybersecurity breaches that could affect their financial results within four days of determining a breach is material.
What should I do if I'm an Xfinity customer?
All Xfinity customers — even those whose accounts might not have been breached — must reset their usernames and passwords, according to Comcast. Xfinity is also encouraging subscribers to use two-factor authentication to secure their accounts.
"While Xfinity advises customers not to re-use passwords across multiple accounts, the company is recommending that customers change passwords for other accounts for which they use the same username and password or security question," Comcast noted.
Comcast has more than 32 million broadband customers, according to its most recent earnings report, suggesting that the breach likely affected all Xfinity customers.
Customers with questions can contact Xfinity toll-free at (888) 799-2560 24 hours a day Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. More information is available on Xfinity's website at xfinity.com/dataincident.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- In:
- Technology
- Consumer News
- Security Hacker
- Xfinity
- Data Breach
- Comcast
- Computers
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News streaming to discuss her reporting.
veryGood! (42)
Related
- Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, gets engaged to girlfriend Amanda Dubin
- Tom Brady Reveals How His Kids Would React If He Unretired Again
- Can Miami overcome Mario Cristobal's blunder? Picks for college football Week 7 | Podcast
- Keith Urban shares the secret to a great song ahead of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony
- Brian Austin Green Shares Message to Sharna Burgess Amid Ex Megan Fox's Baby News
- George Santos charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and more
- German government forecasts that the country’s economy will shrink by 0.4% this year
- The Supreme Court signals support for a Republican-leaning congressional district in South Carolina
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul stirs debate: Is this a legitimate fight?
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners show the beauty — and precarity — of nature
Ranking
- NATO’s Rutte calls for more Western support for Ukraine, warns of Russian alliances
- 13-year-old Texas boy convicted of murder in fatal shooting at a Sonic Drive-In, authorities say
- 13-year-old Texas boy convicted of murder in fatal shooting at a Sonic Drive-In, authorities say
- Keith Urban shares the secret to a great song ahead of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony
- Vermont man is fit to stand trial over shooting of 3 Palestinian college students
- Dominican Republic has partially reopened its border with Haiti. But a diplomatic crisis persists
- Here's Why it's Hard to Make Money as an Amazon Seller
- One sister survived cancer. Five years later, the other one is still processing it
Recommendation
-
2024 'virtually certain' to be warmest year on record, scientists say
-
Australian-Chinese journalist detained for 3 years in China returns to Australia
-
Prominent patrol leader in NYC Orthodox Jewish community sentenced to 17 years for raping teenager
-
2 senior generals purged from Myanmar’s military government are sentenced to life for corruption
-
24 more monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina lab are recovered unharmed
-
Astros on the brink of seventh straight ALCS with Game 3 win vs. Twins
-
Ex-NFL player Sergio Brown arrested in Southern California in connection to mother’s slaying
-
Billy Ray Cyrus Marries Firerose in Beautiful, Joyous Ceremony