Questions and answers

Q: I have heard that data was stolen from Deutsche Telekom. Who was affected?

A: Customers who signed a mobile communications contract with T-Mobile before April 2006 might be affected.

Q: What happened?

A: Data was stolen from T-Mobile in 2006. Apart from names and cell phone numbers, the data also include the address and, in some cases, the date of birth or e-mail addresses. The records do not contain bank details, credit card numbers or call data. In spring 2006, Deutsche Telekom immediately reported the theft to the responsible public prosecutors' office. Within the scope of their investigations, the public prosecutors' office was able to recover storage media. Extensive research conducted over several months on the Internet and in data trading places could not reveal any clues indicating that the data had been offered or disseminated on the black market. Owing to this, Deutsche Telekom assumed that there would be no dissemination of the data.

Q: How might I, as a customer, be affected by the dissemination of data and what happened with the data?

A: We cannot say if the data was misused for illegal action. Deutsche Telekom has no evidence to confirm that the data records have been used in 2006 or subsequent years to harass customers or otherwise been misused by unauthorized parties. Should you still be worried, please call the toll-free hotline number 0800 330 034505 or send an e-mail to info@telekom.de

Customers can also request to have their mobile phone numbers changed free of charge.

Q: What has T-Mobile done to protect customers?

A: In spring 2006, Deutsche Telekom immediately reported the theft to the responsible public prosecutors' office. Within the scope of their investigations, the public prosecutors' office was able to recover storage media. Extensive research conducted over several months on the Internet and in data trading places could not reveal any clues indicating that the data had been offered or disseminated on the black market. Owing to this, Deutsche Telekom assumed that there would be no dissemination of the data.

Following the data theft in 2006, T-Mobile has further intensified their security measures. Among other initiatives, complex passwords have in the meantime become a technical necessity, access authorization has been restricted to an even greater extent, access to databases managing customer data is being monitored closer than ever and registered, and a semi-automatic security monitoring system for database administration and configuration has been developed.

Q: Is it conceivable that the data theft happens again today?

A: Independent experts have confirmed that the security standards at Deutsche Telekom are very high. Following the data theft in 2006, T-Mobile has further intensified their security measures. Among other initiatives, complex passwords have in the meantime become a technical necessity, access authorization has been restricted to an even greater extent, access to databases managing customer data is being monitored closer than ever and registered, and a semi-automatic security monitoring system for database administration and configuration has been developed.