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Experian: 15M have info stolen in T-Mobile hack

NEW YORK – Hackers have stolen personal information belonging to about 15 million T-Mobile wireless customers and potential customers in the U.S., including Social Security numbers, home addresses, birthdates and other personal information.

In the latest high-profile breach, the hackers got the information from credit reporting agency Experian, which T-Mobile uses to check the credit of consumers applying for phone plans and financing for devices. Experian said T-Mobile customers who applied between Sept. 1, 2013 and Sept. 16, 2015 may have had their information stolen.

Experian said it immediately notified law enforcement authorities after discovering the hack and that “there is no evidence to date that the data has been used inappropriately.”

T-Mobile customers can sign up for two free years of credit monitoring services at www.protectmyID.com/securityincident , a service owned by Experian.

That arrangement prompted sarcastic responses on Twitter. T-Mobile CEO John Legere, who is active on Twitter, responded to many tweeters unhappy with the resolution offered.

“I hear you re: Experian as service protection option. I am moving as fast as possible to get an alternate option in place by tomorrow,” Legere wrote Thursday evening. Earlier in a statement, Legere had said that he was “incredibly angry” about the breach and that the company would review its relationship with Experian.

“Customers will be cynical” about using credit monitoring from Experian, said Gartner security analyst Avivah Litan. “Why would you trust someone with your accounts that’s been breached.”

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