Millions of Xfinity customers’ personal information compromised

  • Xfinity customers’ personal information was accessed by hackers
  • The breach was linked to a software vulnerability
  • Unauthorized access occurred between Oct. 16 and 19
  • Information acquired includes usernames, hashed passwords, and personal details
  • Xfinity is requiring customers to reset their passwords and recommending two-factor authentication
  • Nearly 35.9 million people were affected by the breach

Xfinity, the Comcast-owned telecommunications business, has notified its customers of a data breach that occurred due to a software vulnerability. Hackers gained unauthorized access to internal systems between Oct. 16 and 19, potentially compromising personal information such as usernames, hashed passwords, and contact details. Xfinity is taking steps to address the breach by requiring customers to reset their passwords and recommending two-factor authentication. The breach affected nearly 35.9 million people. The company is currently analyzing the breach and has not found any evidence of customer data being leaked or any attacks on customers. However, the breach highlights the importance of cybersecurity measures and the need for companies to promptly disclose breaches that could impact their customers.

Public Companies: Xfinity (N/A), Comcast (CMCSA)
Private Companies: undefined
Key People:

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Factuality Level: 7
Justification: The article provides information about a data breach that occurred at Xfinity, a Comcast-owned telecommunications business. It mentions that hackers accessed customers’ personal information by exploiting a vulnerability in software used by the company. The article also states that Xfinity discovered the suspicious activity and determined that information was likely acquired. It mentions the types of information that were potentially accessed, such as usernames, hashed passwords, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. The article notes that Xfinity is not aware of any customer data being leaked or any attacks on customers. It also mentions that Xfinity is requiring customers to reset their passwords and recommends two-factor or multifactor authentication. The article discloses that nearly 35.9 million people were affected by the breach, although the company declined to confirm a specific number. It provides information about the software provider Citrix and its previously announced vulnerability. The article mentions that the vulnerability has been linked to other hacks targeting different organizations. It also mentions new rules by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the disclosure of cybersecurity breaches by public companies. However, the article lacks some specific details, such as the exact nature of the vulnerability and how it was exploited. It also does not provide any information about the actions taken by Xfinity to address the breach or prevent future incidents.

Noise Level: 3
Justification: The article provides relevant information about a data breach at Xfinity and the potential impact on customers. However, it lacks in-depth analysis, scientific rigor, and actionable insights. The article also includes some repetitive information and does not provide evidence or examples to support its claims.

Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The news article does not provide specific information about financial markets or companies impacted.

Presence of Extreme Event: No
Nature of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating of the Extreme Event: No
Justification: The news article discusses a data breach at Xfinity, a Comcast-owned telecommunications business. While this event is concerning for customers and may have financial implications for the company, it does not describe an extreme event or provide information on financial markets or companies impacted.

Reported publicly: www.marketwatch.com