MTN, a telecom giant has confirmed a cyber attack, leading to unauthorized access of personal information belonging to some customers across certain markets.
The company, however, assures that its main operational structures, including network, billing, and financial platforms, are secure and were unaffected.
A statement issued on Thursday by Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria stressed that “there is no evidence of compromise to any of our critical infrastructure, core MTN platforms or services.”
Upon detecting the breach, MTN immediately initiated its internal cybersecurity response procedures. Law enforcement agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), have been informed and are currently investigating.
The company also stated that it has commenced notifying affected customers, adhering to local data protection and privacy laws in the relevant markets. Concerned national authorities have also been informed, and MTN affirmed it is providing continuous updates and full cooperation to regulatory bodies and investigators.
MTN advised customers to be vigilant by following digital security best practices. These include regularly updating apps and devices, using strong and unique passwords, activating multi-factor authentication where possible, and being wary of suspicious messages or requests for sensitive details.
“The privacy of information is our utmost concern, and MTN remains dedicated to protecting the security of our systems and the trust our customers and stakeholders place in us,” the company declared.
