Here we go again—another large company makes public a giant data breach, and this time it's Orange Belgium. A whopping 850,000 customers had their personal information compromised. That's a gigantic figure, and if you're like me, you can't help but wonder: "What's even safe anymore?"
• Names of customers
• Contact numbers
• Email addresses
• Billing details
The firm maintains that no passwords or financial information was pilfered. Sure, that's good to know, but come on—your phone number and email address in the wrong hands can still do a lot of harm.
That's why this hack is significant. It's not a question of figures on a press release—it's about real people who may now have to deal with phishing emails or identity theft.
That's the smart thing to do, but it still raises a large question: why are third-party providers usually the vulnerability? Large businesses spend millions securing themselves, but sometimes neglect to look over their partners to see if they're held to the same standard.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts.
• Bypass fishy links—if unsure, don't click.
• Change your email and phone account passwords periodically.
• Monitor for strange charges or account activity.
It's like placing additional locks on your virtual home.
My opinion
I get the feeling that these breaches are starting to happen too often. Some monster corporation announces one every couple of months. At least Orange Belgium took responsibility for it, though, which is more than a few corporations can claim. Still, it points out how vulnerable online security really is when even gigantic telecos can make mistakes.
So, here we have it: 850,000 Orange Belgium users now have to contend with a data breach. No payment information leaked, but the hacked data still provides plenty of fuel for scammers.
The facts behind the breach
Orange Belgium clarified that the breach did not originate from their core systems. Rather, the issue began with a third-party company that had stored part of the customer details. Hackers had access and made off with information such as:• Names of customers
• Contact numbers
• Email addresses
• Billing details
The firm maintains that no passwords or financial information was pilfered. Sure, that's good to know, but come on—your phone number and email address in the wrong hands can still do a lot of harm.
Why you should care
Ever get those random scam texts or fake “bank” emails? Now imagine how much more convincing those scams become if the attacker knows your name, email, and billing info. Scary, right? With just a little bit of real data, a hacker can send messages that look 100% legit.That's why this hack is significant. It's not a question of figures on a press release—it's about real people who may now have to deal with phishing emails or identity theft.
How Orange Belgium is addressing it
To their credit, Orange didn't remain silent. They responded promptly, alerted regulators, and began to notify customers. They also asked individuals to be wary of suspicious emails and messages.That's the smart thing to do, but it still raises a large question: why are third-party providers usually the vulnerability? Large businesses spend millions securing themselves, but sometimes neglect to look over their partners to see if they're held to the same standard.
What you should do now
Even as a non-customer, it's a good reminder to secure things. Several simple steps can keep you safe:• Enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts.
• Bypass fishy links—if unsure, don't click.
• Change your email and phone account passwords periodically.
• Monitor for strange charges or account activity.
It's like placing additional locks on your virtual home.
My opinion
I get the feeling that these breaches are starting to happen too often. Some monster corporation announces one every couple of months. At least Orange Belgium took responsibility for it, though, which is more than a few corporations can claim. Still, it points out how vulnerable online security really is when even gigantic telecos can make mistakes.
So, here we have it: 850,000 Orange Belgium users now have to contend with a data breach. No payment information leaked, but the hacked data still provides plenty of fuel for scammers.