Cellcom's Week-Long Network Outage Attributed to Cyberattack
Discover the details behind Cellcom's recent week-long service outage, attributed to a targeted cyberattack. Learn about the company's response, the impact on customers, and the ongoing restoration efforts.
TL;DR
Cellcom, a regional wireless carrier in Wisconsin, experienced a week-long service outage due to a cyberattack. The company has initiated restoration efforts and assured customers that their personal and financial information remains secure. The incident is suspected to be a ransomware attack, although no group has claimed responsibility.
Main Content
Cellcom, a regional wireless carrier based in Wisconsin, has confirmed that a cyberattack was the cause of a week-long service outage affecting voice and text services in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company has begun restoring services and stated that it had protocols in place for such incidents.
Impact and Response
The cyberattack targeted a network area separate from where sensitive customer information is stored. Cellcom has reassured customers that there is no evidence of compromise to personal or financial data.
“We experienced a cyber incident. While this is unfortunate, it’s not something we were unprepared for. We have protocols and plans in place for exactly this kind of situation. From the start, we’ve followed those plans — including engaging outside cybersecurity experts, notifying the FBI and Wisconsin officials, and working around the clock to bring systems safely back online.”
— Cellcom’s Letter to Customers
Cellcom has notified local authorities and is working with external cybersecurity experts to mitigate the incident. The company expects to fully restore its services by the end of this week.
“While we would like to provide a timeline for full restoration, we are unable to share exact milestones with complete confidence. Our team continues to build on the progress shared yesterday and our best estimate is that full service will be restored by or before the end of this week.”
Potential Cause and Ongoing Investigation
Although Cellcom has not provided specific details about the attack, the outage suggests that the company may have been the victim of a ransomware attack. As of now, no ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
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Source
For more details, visit the full article: SecurityAffairs
Conclusion
The cyberattack on Cellcom highlights the growing threat of cyber incidents to critical infrastructure. As the company works to restore services, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and preparedness plans.
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