Latest news with #UniversalSubscriberIdentityModule
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
South Korea orders SK Telecom to boost data security after major leak
SEOUL: South Korean authorities on Friday ordered SK Telecom to enhance its data security measures and imposed a fine following a cyberattack that exposed nearly 27 million pieces of user data. The directive comes after the country's largest mobile carrier disclosed in April that it had suffered a major data breach caused by a malware attack. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it will impose a fine of up to 30 million won (US$21,970), and required SK Telecom to strengthen its security protocols. These include conducting security audits at least quarterly, placing data governance under the direct oversight of the CEO, and increasing investment and staffing in data security. "This incident serves as a wake-up call for information protection not only in the domestic telecommunications industry but also across the entire network infrastructure," said Science Minister Yoo Sang-im in a statement, following a government investigation. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won apologised last month for the breach, and SK Telecom said it would take full responsibility for any harm caused. The breach has sparked alarm among its 23 million users over the possible theft of personal and financial data. In response, the carrier said it would provide free Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) replacements to all affected users at more than 2,600 retail outlets nationwide. As of late June, around 9.39 million users had replaced their USIM cards, according to SK Telecom.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SK Group Chairman Chey apologises for massive data leak at SK Telecom
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways SEOUL (Reuters) -SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won apologised on Wednesday for a massive data leak at South Korea's largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, which has caused concern among its 23 million users over the possible theft of personal and financial information. The data breach, which SK attributed to a malware attack, was detected on April 18 and subscribers have rushed to the carrier's outlets to replace mobile phone Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) cards, which the company is offering free of charge. Speaking publicly for the first time since the news, Chey apologised for the concern and inconvenience to customers caused by the data breach and vowed to conduct a sweeping data security review involving outside experts. "What I realised over this is that we've considered it an IT security matter and had people in that area handle it," Chey said when asked what he personally took away from the incident. "I believe we need to look at this as a matter of national defence, not just (data) security." SK Telecom has urged customers to sign up for its USIM Protection Service, which it said provided the same level of prevention as replacing a USIM card. Chey said he has signed up for the service but has not had his USIM card replaced yet. (Reporting by Jack Kim, Heekyong YangEditing by Ed Davies)
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SK Group Chairman Chey apologises for massive data leak at SK Telecom
The logo of SK Hynix is seen at its headquarters in Seongnam SEOUL (Reuters) -SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won apologised on Wednesday for a massive data leak at South Korea's largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, which has caused concern among its 23 million users over the possible theft of personal and financial information. The data breach, which SK attributed to a malware attack, was detected on April 18 and subscribers have rushed to the carrier's outlets to replace mobile phone Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) cards, which the company is offering free of charge. Speaking publicly for the first time since the news, Chey apologised for the concern and inconvenience to customers caused by the data breach and vowed to conduct a sweeping data security review involving outside experts. "What I realised over this is that we've considered it an IT security matter and had people in that area handle it," Chey said when asked what he personally took away from the incident. ADVERTISEMENT "I believe we need to look at this as a matter of national defence, not just (data) security." SK Telecom has urged customers to sign up for its USIM Protection Service, which it said provided the same level of prevention as replacing a USIM card. Chey said he has signed up for the service but has not had his USIM card replaced yet. (Reporting by Jack Kim, Heekyong YangEditing by Ed Davies)
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
South Korea's SK Telecom begins SIM card replacement after data breach
Seoul: South Korea 's largest carrier SK Telecom started on Monday to replace mobile SIM chips for its 23 million users following a data breach , prompting alarmed customers to form long queues for the replacements. SK Telecom announced earlier this month that it had fallen victim to a hacking incident involving malicious code, through which customers' personal information was compromised. It prompted a company apology and the government to order the review of the country's overall data protection system. SK Telecom has not given details on the extent of the damage or who was behind the attack. "Starting from 10 am (0100 GMT) on Monday, we will replace USIM chips free of charge for those who wish to replace them at 2,600 carrier stores nationwide," the company said in a press release on Monday. USIM stands for Universal Subscriber Identity Module, used in mobile networks. The company has vowed to take full responsibility and asked users to sign up for an information protection service. "We will also thoroughly prepare for the USIM replacement, so please visit a store," it said. But it has acknowledged that it has secured less than five percent of the USIM cards needed for its 23 million-strong customer base, noting it will procure additional five million chips by the end of May. "I wish they had been more transparent about how much information had been leaked and how many subscribers were affected," said Jang, who was waiting in line in central Seoul to get a new chip. "But instead, they have only told us to either change our USIM chips or sign up for a protection service," the 30-year-old company worker said, asking to be identified by his surname. South Korea, widely recognised as among the most wired country in the world, has long been a target of cyber hacking by North Korea, which has been blamed for several major attacks in the past. Police announced in May that North Korean hackers were behind the theft of sensitive data from a South Korean court computer network -- including individuals' financial records -- over a two-year period. The stolen data amounted to more than one gigabyte in size.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- New Indian Express
South Korea's SK Telecom begins SIM card replacement following data breach
SEOUL: South Korea's largest carrier SK Telecom started on Monday to replace mobile SIM chips for its 23 million users following a data breach, prompting alarmed customers to form long queues for the replacements. SK Telecom announced earlier this month that it had fallen victim to a hacking incident involving malicious code, through which customers' personal information was compromised. It prompted a company apology and the government to order the review of the country's overall data protection system. SK Telecom has not given details on the extent of the damage or who was behind the attack. "Starting from 10 am (0100 GMT) on Monday, we will replace USIM chips free of charge for those who wish to replace them at 2,600 carrier stores nationwide," the company said in a press release on Monday. USIM stands for Universal Subscriber Identity Module, used in mobile networks. The company has vowed to take full responsibility and asked users to sign up for an information protection service. "We will also thoroughly prepare for the USIM replacement, so please visit a store," it said. But it has acknowledged that it has secured less than five percent of the USIM cards needed for its 23 million-strong customer base, noting it will procure additional five million chips by the end of May. "I wish they had been more transparent about how much information had been leaked and how many subscribers were affected," said Jang, who was waiting in line in central Seoul to get a new chip. "But instead, they have only told us to either change our USIM chips or sign up for a protection service," the 30-year-old company worker said, asking to be identified by his surname. South Korea, widely recognised as among the most wired country in the world, has long been a target of cyber hacking by North Korea, which has been blamed for several major attacks in the past. Police announced in May that North Korean hackers were behind the theft of sensitive data from a South Korean court computer network -- including individuals' financial records -- over a two-year period. The stolen data amounted to more than one gigabyte in size.
