Archive · 24 Sep 2025
KT Admits Poor Management in Mobile Payment Breaches
Imagine tiny cell phone towers called femtocells that KT uses.
Some hackers found a way to break into these femtocells, which KT wasn't managing very well.
This let the hackers steal some user information and make unauthorized payments.
About 362 people had their data stolen, and 20,300 users may have been affected.
KT's CEO admitted the company messed up, and they are now working to make their systems safer.
They are also looking at canceling fees for some customers whose information was compromised.
KT's CEO admitted to poor management of femtocells, linked to unauthorized mobile payment breaches.
Unregistered femtocells connected to KT's network and accessed private data.
362 users' private data was accessed, with damages estimated at 240 million won.
KT is expanding its analysis of data authentication methods beyond the initial ARS focus.
KT is considering waiving fees for roughly 20,300 users affected by the data leak.
- Who
- KT Corp's CEO, Kim Young-shub, and Second Vice Science Minister Ryu Je-myung.
- What
- KT Corp. admitted to poor management of micro base stations (femtocells) leading to mobile payment breaches.
- When
- Around late August, according to the company.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Hackers exploited vulnerabilities in KT's femtocell management to access user data and authorize payments.
- Company
- KT Corp
- Event
- Unauthorised mobile payment breaches
- Root Cause
- Poor management of femtocells
- Data Breached
- Private data of 362 users
- Damages
- 240 million won (US$173,000)
- Affected Users
- Approximately 20,300