NewKerala.com

Key Points

SK Telecom has paused new subscriber sign-ups due to a significant data breach affecting USIM cards. The company is prioritizing USIM replacements to protect its 25 million customers, with 1 million replacements completed and 7.7 million pending. Temporary booths at Incheon Airport have been set up for on-site replacements to assist travelers. CEO Ryu Young-sang emphasized that the suspension will continue until the USIM supply shortage is resolved.

Key Points: SK Telecom Halts New Sign-Ups Amid USIM Data Breach

  • SK Telecom halts new sign-ups after data breach
  • 25 million customers offered free USIM replacements
  • Temporary booths set up at Incheon Airport for USIM swaps
2 min read

Data breach: SK Telecom suspends new subscriber sign-ups

SK Telecom suspends new subscriber sign-ups following a data breach affecting USIM cards.

"The suspension will remain in place until we establish measures to address the USIM supply shortage. - Ryu Young-sang, CEO"

Seoul, May 5

SK Telecom suspended new subscriber sign-ups to its network on Monday as part of response measures following a recent company network data breach.

The nationwide suspension took place as the company focuses on replacing mobile phone USIM chips after it detected a cyberattack on April 18 that showed signs of a large-scale leak of customer USIM data, reports Yonhap news agency.

The government ordered SKT last week to halt new subscriber sign-ups until it resolves a shortage of USIM cards related to the data breach incident.

The company has offered free USIM replacements to all 25 million subscribers, including 2 million budget phone users, to prevent potential damage, but the efforts have lagged due to a limited supply.

A company official said about 1 million subscribers have so far replaced their USIMs, while 7.7 million others are signed up for replacements.

SK Telecom has also rolled out a USIM protection service, which it claims offers the same level of defence against illegal financial activity as physically replacing a USIM.

As of 9 am on Monday, 22.18 million people had signed up for the service, according to the company.

The official also said the company has yet to detect any cases of losses due to the stolen data so far.

To assist international travellers, SK Telecom has set up temporary booths at Incheon International Airport for on-site USIM replacements. Those using international roaming services are not eligible for the USIM Protection Service and are advised to replace their USIM chips to safeguard their data during traveling.

"From May 5, our 2,600 retail stores will halt new subscriptions and focus on replacing universal subscriber identity module (USIM) cards," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ryu Young-sang said.

"The suspension will remain in place until we establish measures to address the USIM supply shortage. Mobile number portability (MNP) transfers from other mobile network operators will also be suspended," he added.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is why India needs stronger data protection laws like the EU's GDPR. Our Aadhaar data is even more sensitive than USIM details. Hope our government is watching this case closely. Data security should be top priority for all telecom companies.
P
Priya M.
Very concerning! 😟 In India we've had similar issues with telecom data leaks. Companies need to invest more in cybersecurity rather than just offering free replacements after the damage is done. Prevention is better than cure!
A
Arjun S.
At least they're being transparent about the breach and taking action. Remember when Indian telecom companies would quietly patch things up without informing customers? The airport booth idea is smart thinking for travelers.
S
Sunita P.
This shows how vulnerable our digital lives are. I appreciate SK Telecom's efforts but 25 million affected customers is massive! Makes me worried about our own Jio/Airtel security measures. Should we be demanding more audits?
V
Vikram J.
The USIM protection service seems like a temporary fix. Physical replacement is the only real solution. In India we'd probably just get SMS alerts saying "be careful of fraud calls" and call it a day. South Korea's response is more professional.
N
Neha R.
Interesting to see how they're prioritizing existing customers over new sign-ups. In our competitive market, companies would never voluntarily stop new subscriptions even during a crisis. Profit over security mentality needs to change globally.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50