FBI launches probe into security breach in AT&T’s network

FBI spokeswoman Lindsay Godwin said in a statement Thursday, “The FBI is aware of these possible computer intrusions and has opened an investigation to address the potential cyber threat.”

On Wednesday tech gossip blog site Gawker media, reported that over 114,000 iPad users’ e-mail addresses were exposed due to the security glitch in AT&T’s network that included some of the top government officials and private sector executives.

Though AT&T on Wednesday did accept the security glitch in its iPad 3G network, it refused to confirm Gawker media’s report that also provided 'list' of names of high-profile people whose accounts were exposed online.

AT&T patched up the security glitch
Ever since AT&T, Apple devices exclusive carrier in the United States, admitted being aware of security glitch in iPad 3G network on Wednesday, media reports are suggesting that AT&T knew about the security glitch ever since the launch of iPad tablet two months ago.

However, it was forced to publicly acknowledge it only when Gawker published its report, exposing the security lapse in AT&T’s network early on Wednesday.

FBI spokeswoman Lindsay Godwin said in a statement Thursday, “The FBI is aware of these possible computer intrusions and has opened an investigation to address the potential cyber threat.”

To combat the situation, AT&T on late Wednesday issued a statement where it accepted that it knew about the security glitch and said that it has been fixed.

"This issue was escalated to the highest levels of the company and was corrected by Tuesday. We are continuing to investigate and will inform all customers whose e-mail addresses may have been obtained,” said AT&T spokesman.

He went on to add, "The only information that can be derived from the ICC IDS [customer identification system] is the e-mail address attached to that device. We have essentially turned off the feature that provided the e-mail addresses."

AT&T acted clumsily?
Security experts, keeping tabs on this whole new drama involving AT&T network, believe that AT&T acted clumsily when it came to solving the problem they allegedly knew for quite some time.

Experts are busy debating that if AT&T knew about the security glitch then why the company did not repaired the glitch on time.

Commenting on this issue, Jamz Yaneza, threat research manager for Trend Micro, "If someone is able to get their hands on the list of e-mail addresses, [they're going to use it for] phishing or its going to be spam, whether it's going to be a targeted attack or a particular e-mail address. There is some bot out there that is collecting this information and its selling it in the underground."