AT&T customer? Claim up to $7,500 from $177M data breach settlement - don't miss the new deadline

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. If you're a current or former AT&T customer, the deadline to file a claim to be part of the $177 million class-action settlement over two major data breaches has been extended. The breaches -- one dating back to 2019 and a second in 2024 -- exposed Social Security numbers, call and text records, names, addresses, dates of birth, and more. Also: I compared 5G network signals of Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T at a baseball stadium - here's the verdict AT&T created two settlement funds: a $149 million pool for customers whose personal details were leaked in the first breach (announced March 2024) and a $28 million pool for those whose call and text logs were exposed in the Snowflake hack (July 2024). Kroll Settlement Administration, the firm managing the settlement, opened the claim process in August for affected customers so that they can be paid out from one or both funds. Here's how and when to file. If you file a claim, you could receive up to $5,000 from the first fund (called AT&T 1 Settlement Class) and $2,500 from the second (AT&T 2 Settlement Class) -- so dual-breach victims might get as much as $7,500. Also: AT&T customers will soon get their own AI receptionist to answer calls and block spam Your exact payout will depend on how many people apply, but higher payments will be reserved for those who can prove any out-of-pocket damages. You'll need to submit documentation that's "fairly traceable" when you file a claim to...