MTN Group has reported a cybersecurity incident that resulted in unauthorized access to personal information belonging to some of its customers across certain markets.
Although the exact scope of the breach is still being determined, the company has confirmed that its core network infrastructure, billing systems, and financial services operations remain unaffected and continue to operate normally.
The breach involved an unknown third-party actor who claims to have accessed data linked to specific parts of MTN’s systems. However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that customer accounts or digital wallets have been directly compromised as a result of the incident.
Upon discovering the intrusion, MTN promptly activated its internal cybersecurity response protocols. The company also informed the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, to initiate a formal investigation.
In addition to notifying South African authorities, MTN has been in contact with the relevant regulatory bodies in the affected countries, providing ongoing updates and fully cooperating with law enforcement efforts to investigate and mitigate the incident.
As part of its response, MTN is actively reaching out to customers whose information may have been compromised, in accordance with the legal and regulatory obligations in each jurisdiction. The company emphasized that it takes the privacy and security of customer data very seriously and is committed to addressing the matter with the utmost care and transparency.
In light of the breach, MTN has advised all customers to exercise increased vigilance and adopt basic security practices to protect themselves from potential fraud. These measures include placing a fraud alert on credit reports with major credit bureaus, regularly updating mobile apps and devices, using strong and unique passwords, and enabling multifactor authentication wherever available.
Customers are also urged to be cautious of unsolicited messages and suspicious links, and to avoid sharing sensitive information such as passwords, PINs, or one-time passwords (OTPs) through calls, messages, or emails, even if the source appears legitimate.
MTN has reassured stakeholders that protecting customer information is a top priority and that it remains fully committed to maintaining the trust placed in the company. The telecom group continues to monitor the situation closely, contain the threat, and strengthen its defenses to prevent any further unauthorized access. As investigations continue and more details become available, MTN has pledged to maintain open and transparent communication with all concerned parties.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
