Chirp’s CEO, Tim Kravchunosky, said that the recent AT&T data breach could have been avoided if they made use of Blockchain technology.
Tim Kravchunosky, the CEO and founder of decentralized telecommunications company Chirp, has stated that the recent AT&T intrusion is “inexcusable” and could have been prevented by implementing blockchain technology. Kravchunosky posits that AT&T should have maintained its data on a blockchain.
AT&T’s data storage and protection will be enhanced by implementing blockchain technology. According to the CEO of Chirp
The executive stated that the breach underscores the necessity of secure database storage, which includes decentralized solutions that are more likely to thwart external threats.
Kravchunosky stated that the data is stored on an immutable ledger, and threats are monitored in real-time, which enables a swift response before a compromise.
The executive continued by stating that although a distributed ledger cannot guarantee that a subsequent breach will not occur, it can substantially enhance data protection.
Of course, there is never a guarantee that a breach of the magnitude reported by AT&T could not occur if the data were stored on the blockchain; however, the probability is significantly reduced. He explained that blockchain is transparent, rendering it impossible to conceal such intrusions for two years.
Last Friday, AT&T acknowledged that hackers had “unlawfully accessed and copied AT&T call logs” from a third-party cloud platform. The company became aware of the situation after an internal investigation in April. According to reports, the data accessed did not include personal information, the calls’ content, or messages customers sent and received.
Nevertheless, the hackers had access to metadata, which encompassed phone numbers. AT&T acknowledges in a filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that these data, in vast quantities, can be analyzed to identify patterns and connections between individuals. A strategic studies professor, Thomas Rid, cautioned that additional research is required to ascertain the extent to which hackers receive compensation from AT&T.
“If you have somebody’s metadata, you know when they go to work, where they go to work, where they sleep every night.”
According to reports, the hackers obtained information regarding text messages and communications between May 1 and October 31, 2022, as well as January 2, 2023.
AT&T compensated hackers with over $370,000 to delete data
Wired reported that AT&T paid the hackers over $370,000 in Bitcoin to erase the data and submit a video containing proof of deletion. The report indicates that the hacker received the AT&T payment in May and provided the Bitcoin addresses for transmitting and receiving as evidence. Wired verified a 5.7 Bitcoin payment on May 17 using an online blockchain monitoring tool. Chris Janczewski, the director of global investigations at TRM Labs, also independently verified a 5.72 Bitcoin transaction valued at $373,646. Subsequently, the intruder directed the funds through numerous cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges.
Reddington, a security researcher, is purportedly compensated at least $300,000 for acting as an intermediary between the perpetrator and AT&T. Proof of payment was also furnished to Wired by Reddington. Reddington thinks that the hackers honestly erased the stolen data, as it was stored on a cloud server accessible to him.
The hacker is purportedly a member of ShinyHunters, an infamous hacking organization for its data thievery.
