SK apologises for data breach at SK Telecom

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Malware attack forces SIM card replacements and sparks privacy fears Chairman says cybersecurity must be treated as national defence What happened: Malware breach triggers data leak and SIM card panic SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won apologised on Wednesday for a major data leak at SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest mobile carrier. The company traced the breach, found on April 18, to malware that targeted USIM cards, which store user identity on mobile devices. The attack may have compromised the data of 23M users. SK Telecom offered free USIM card replacements, which caused a rush at stores as worried customers sought protection.

The company also promoted its USIM Protection Service, saying it provides similar security without needing a new card. Chey said he joined the service but hasn’t replaced his card yet, drawing criticism from some users. Also read: SK Telecom offers free SIM replacements after data breach Also read: Orange Group probes cyberattack after data breach Why it’s important The breach revealed weaknesses in South Korea’s telecom infrastructure. Many users questioned why SK Telecom took so long to detect and report the attack. The incident has raised alarms about how telecom firms manage and respond to data threats.

Chey said companies should treat cybersecurity as a “national defence” issue, not just an IT problem. He promised an independent review led by outside experts. Still, SK Telecom must act quickly to rebuild trust and show it can protect users from future attacks.