JUST-IN: MTN Confirms Cyber Attack, Says Core Systems Unaffected

MTN Group has confirmed it was the target of a cybersecurity breach that resulted in unauthorised access to personal data belonging to some of its customers in select markets.

However, the telecommunications giant insisted that its core infrastructure, including its network, billing systems, and financial service platforms, remained secure and fully operational. The telecommunications company also confirmed that its Nigerian operations were not affected by the incident.

In a statement released on Thursday, the company emphasised that there was “no evidence of compromise to any of our critical infrastructure, core MTN platforms or services.”

An unidentified third party has claimed responsibility for accessing data from segments of MTN’s systems, but the Group stated that, “at this stage we do not have any information to suggest that customers’ accounts and wallets have been directly compromised.”

MTN said it promptly activated its internal cybersecurity response protocols upon detection of the incident. Law enforcement agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), have been notified and are currently investigating the matter.

The company also reported that it has begun the process of notifying affected customers, in compliance with local data protection and privacy regulations in the affected markets. Relevant country authorities have also been informed, and MTN said it was providing ongoing updates and full cooperation with regulatory bodies and investigators.

As part of its response, MTN urged customers to remain vigilant by observing best practices in digital security. These include keeping apps and devices up to date, using strong and unique passwords, enabling multifactor authentication where available, and being cautious of suspicious messages or requests for sensitive information.

“The privacy of information is our top priority, and MTN remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our systems and the trust placed in us by our customers and stakeholders,” the company stated.

Investigations were ongoing as MTN works to contain the incident and reinforce its defenses against future threats.

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria, the Group’s largest and most lucrative subsidiary, remains unaffected by the breach. A source at the MTN Nigeria office confirmed that the cybersecurity incident did not extend to its operations, and that all services and systems in the Nigerian market are fully secure and functional.

“MTN Nigeria is not affected by this recent development,” the source stated, offering reassurance to Nigerian subscribers and stakeholders.