Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica is investigating a potential cyberattack following reports that data from roughly one million former customers in Peru was leaked online. The company confirmed on Tuesday that it is assessing an alleged security breach after a sample dataset surfaced on an internet forum. According to a Telefónica spokesperson, the sample appears to contain customer information from Peru, a market the company exited just two months ago.
The cybersecurity incident came to light through HackManac, a social media account that monitors cyberattacks globally. HackManac reported that a hacker group calling itself “Dedale” claimed responsibility for the breach and allegedly possesses a full database of 22 million Telefonica customers. To support their claims, the group released a sample of one million records, purportedly as proof of the larger dataset.
The situation raises concerns about data security practices, particularly in cases where companies divest from certain regions but may retain sensitive information linked to former operations. While the breach remains unconfirmed, Telefónica’s response underscores the growing challenges that global corporations face in maintaining data protection and regulatory compliance even after ceasing operations in a country.
The company has not yet disclosed what type of customer information may have been compromised, nor has it confirmed whether the data is authentic or if it stemmed from an internal or third-party vulnerability. Telefónica’s ongoing investigation will likely focus on verifying the data’s legitimacy, identifying the breach source, and mitigating any potential damage caused by the leak.
