The AT&T iPad 3G security breach has been all over the news. The gist of the story is that a group known as Goatse Security, obtained the data by running a script on the AT&T website. The script would supply an iPad 3G SIM card serial number and would return the email address of the owner. Upon signup for 3G service on the iPad an email address must be entered. When an iPad owner would check for their data usage, the iPad SIM card serial number would be sent to the AT&T website and the email address would be returned and would pre-populate the email address field so the password would be the only thing necessary to enter. AT&T has removed this convenience and have closed the security breach.
It is unfortunate that the security breach was done at all. However, the estimated 114,000 3G owners’ email addresses and SIM serial numbers are out there.
So how is this information going to be used? Should anyone care?
I think answering this question is not going to be easy. Privacy is a hot topic, especially these days. The WSJ is reporting that the FBI has opened up an investigation into this security breach. I guess only time will tell.
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