Ethical Hacking News
Orange Belgium's 850K customer accounts compromised by mega-breach, exposing sensitive personal information including full names, phone numbers, SIM card numbers, and PUK codes. Cyber experts warn that targeted phishing attacks could be launched against customers using the stolen data.
Over 850,000 Orange Belgium customers' personal information was exposed due to a significant data breach. The compromised data includes full names, phone numbers, SIM card numbers, and personal unlocking key (PUK) codes. Cybercriminals can use the stolen data to conduct targeted phishing attacks against Orange Belgium customers. Experts have expressed concerns about the severity of the breach due to the association between the SIM ID, phone numbers, and real names. Orange Belgium has strengthened its security checks for phone support by adding secret questions and verifying identity in stores. The company advised customers to change passwords regularly and remain vigilant to suspicious links, attachments, calls, or texts. Experts have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with this type of breach and the company's handling under GDPR regulations.
Orange Belgium, a major telecommunications company operating in Belgium, has recently suffered a significant data breach that has exposed the personal information of over 850,000 of its customers. The breach, which occurred at the end of July, resulted in the theft of sensitive customer data, including full names, phone numbers, SIM card numbers, and personal unlocking key (PUK) codes.
The compromised data is considered highly valuable by cybercriminals, who can use it to conduct targeted phishing attacks against Orange Belgium customers. According to experts, the association between the SIM ID, phone numbers, and real names makes it possible for attackers to launch very targeted fraud campaigns, such as sending personalized phishing emails or texts to specific individuals.
While Orange Belgium has stated that no critical data was compromised during the breach, including passwords, email addresses, and financial information, some experts have expressed concerns about the severity of the breach. David Rogers MBE, CEO at Windsor-based security company Copper Horse, has described the situation as "worrying" and noted that the exposure of SIM card numbers could enable attackers to conduct more plausible phishing attacks.
However, Martin added that the SIM card number exposure might not be as serious an issue if Orange Belgium does not rely on those for identity-verification purposes. The company's announcement stated that it had strengthened its security checks for phone support by adding secret questions and continuing to verify identity in stores by scanning ID cards.
The breach has raised concerns about the security of Orange Belgium's systems, particularly in light of recent high-profile attacks involving notorious cybercrime gangs such as Scattered Spider, ShinyHunters, and Lapsus$. These groups have been known for their sophisticated attacks on organizations, including Las Vegas casinos, retail multinationals, tech giants, major airlines, and more.
Orange Belgium has advised customers to change their passwords regularly to a strong string consisting of at least 12 characters using numbers, letters, and symbols. The company has also warned against reusing passwords for multiple accounts and sharing authentication codes with others. Furthermore, it has urged customers to remain vigilant to suspicious links, attachments, calls, or texts.
While Orange Belgium has stated that there is no evidence yet to suggest that the stolen data has been disseminated or abused, some experts have expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with this type of breach. The company's decision not to issue financial compensation to affected customers has also raised questions about its handling of the situation under GDPR regulations.
In recent weeks, three notorious cybercrime gangs appeared to be collaborating on a Telegram channel, sparking fears that they may be planning to launch joint attacks against organizations. These groups have been known for their highly-targeted and sophisticated attacks on various targets, including financial institutions, government agencies, and major corporations.
The breach at Orange Belgium serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive customer data. As cybercrime continues to evolve and become more sophisticated, organizations must prioritize the security of their systems and data to prevent similar breaches from occurring.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-Catastrophic-Breach-Orange-Belgiums-850K-Customer-Accounts-Compromised-by-Mega-Breach-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/08/21/orange_belgium_breach/
Published: Thu Aug 21 09:31:44 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
