SKT apologizes for hacking breach, offers free USIM replacements

SKT apologizes for hacking breach, offers free USIM replacements SK Telecom Chief Executive Officer Ryu Young-sang apologized Friday for the recent hacking incident involving the partial leakage of customers' universal subscriber identity module information, pledging to reinforce security measures and replace all customers’ USIM cards.

“We sincerely apologize to our valued customers and the public for the significant concern and inconvenience caused by this incident,” Ryu said in a press conference at the company’s headquarters in central Seoul. “As an additional step, we will offer free USIM card replacements for all SK Telecom users who wish to make the change.”

The announcement follows the company’s introduction of enhanced fraud detection systems and its USIM protection service. The telecom carrier emphasized that the latest measure aims to ease anxiety among customers in the wake of the breach.

Starting at 10 a.m. Monday, all SK Telecom customers will be eligible for free USIM replacement at the company’s offline stores and airport roaming centers nationwide. Smartwatches and kids’ phone lines are excluded from the program. In cases where demand exceeds capacity, customers will be allowed to make a reservation.

SK Telecom also said that it would retroactively reimburse customers who had already paid for USIM replacements between April 19 and 27.

The company said that the initiative will be extended to mobile virtual network operator subscribers using the telecom carrier’s network. Each MVNO will provide separate notifications regarding implementation details and timelines.

In response to the breach, the company has raised its fraud detection thresholds to the highest level and is ramping up real-time monitoring to detect and prevent any abnormal USIM authentication attempts.

As of Thursday, more than 2.4 million customers had enrolled in the USIM protection service, with a record 2.06 million signing up between Tuesday and Thursday. The company also plans to enhance the service to enable secure USIM protection even during overseas roaming by next month.

“Customer trust is our top priority,” Ryu said. “We’ll continue to strengthen our security infrastructure and ensure that customer data is protected to the highest standards. Through this incident, we are reminded to return to the fundamentals and reaffirm our responsibility as a trusted corporation.”

Source : https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10474223

Comprehension

What recent incident led SK Telecom to issue an apology?
Who is the CEO of SK Telecom who made the public apology?
What measure is SK Telecom offering to its customers after the breach?
When will customers be able to start receiving free USIM replacements?
Which two types of devices are excluded from the free USIM replacement program?
How will SK Telecom handle situations where there are too many customers at once?
Will customers who already paid for a USIM replacement be reimbursed?
What is SK Telecom doing to strengthen its fraud detection systems?
How many customers enrolled in the USIM protection service between Tuesday and Thursday?
What future enhancement is SK Telecom planning for the USIM protection service?

Discussion

Why is it important for companies to respond quickly and transparently to security breaches?
Do you think offering free USIM replacements is enough to regain customer trust? Why or why not?
What additional steps could SK Telecom take to protect customers' data?
How can customers protect themselves when their personal information is leaked?
Should companies be legally required to compensate customers after data breaches?
What are the risks if USIM card information is stolen?
How might this breach affect SK Telecom’s reputation in the long term?
Why do you think so many customers signed up for the USIM protection service so quickly?
Should customers always replace their USIM cards after a breach, even if they haven’t had any issues yet?
How can telecom companies improve communication with their users during a crisis?

Vocabulary

Breach – An incident where data or security is broken or violated.
Apologize – To express regret for a mistake or wrongdoing.
USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) – A smart card used in mobile phones to securely store subscriber information.
Fraud detection – The process of identifying activities that could be fraudulent.
Eligible – Qualified to participate or receive something.
Reimburse – To pay back money spent or lost.
Authentication – The process of verifying identity.
MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) – A wireless communications service provider that does not own the network infrastructure.
Infrastructure – The basic systems and structures needed for a service or business to operate.
Roaming – Using mobile phone services while traveling outside the home network area.