Airtel Denies Data Breach Claims
The telecom giant, which boasts nearly 375 million subscribers in India, declared that a thorough investigation revealed no breach of its systems
Telecom operator Airtel has firmly denied allegations of a data breach following reports that sparked widespread concern among its customer base.
The telecom giant, which boasts nearly 375 million subscribers in India, declared that a thorough investigation revealed no breach of its systems. In a statement, Airtel dismissed the media reports as baseless attempts to damage its reputation by vested interests.
The company's response comes in the wake of unconfirmed reports circulating in local outlets and on social media, suggesting a potential data breach. These reports prompted anxiety among Airtel users, fearing their personal information might be compromised.
The controversy intensified when a purported data broker emerged on a known cybercrime forum, offering to sell the personal information of approximately 375 million users. The data allegedly included phone numbers, email addresses, Aadhaar identification numbers, and residential addresses.
However, skepticism about the authenticity of the alleged breach has surfaced. Certain media organisations which reviewed a sample of the data shared by the broker, noted some discrepancies. Further, cybersecurity experts have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the data being exclusively Airtel’s.
