The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is denying reports that hackers were able to gain access to its cyber systems, which holds terabytes of data. In a Media Release on Monday (30th October 2023), TSTT confirmed that hackers did attempt to break into its cyber systems, but were unsuccessful.
According to TSTT, “On October 9, cyber attackers attempted to gain unauthorized access to TSTT’s systems. At the onset of the threat, TSTT’s incident response processes were swiftly activated. The company took immediate steps to minimize the security vulnerability, successfully isolating its systems and applications. These systems were subsequently quarantined, rebuilt and put back into production as part of clearly defined policies and procedures.” The statement added that TSTT also sought support from internationally-recognized cybersecurity experts in investigating the attempted breach. The company said it has already implemented additional security measures and protocols, as advised by the experts. “Cyber threats of this nature are a continuous feature of modern digital operating systems, and telecommunications infrastructure is no exception to these threats and incursions. TSTT has continuously invested resources in the millions of dollars in its processes and IT infrastructure to protect its systems and the data it produces and stores,” the statement added. Earlier reports suggested that TSTT was the victim of a ransomware attack. FalconFeeds.io, a company that monitors and reports on cyberattacks and threat intelligence, claimed on its X (formerly Twitter) account that the hacker group ‘Ransomexx’ had added the company to its victim’s list, claiming it had more than four (4) million files, with customers’ lines, ID scans and other files. Reports also indicated that a significant number of files with personal information such as phone numbers and addresses were also exfiltrated and posted on the dark web as evidence of having broken TSTT’s cyber defences. TSTT, however, rubbished those claims in its statement on Monday and denied that its security systems were breached. “At this time, the company has not corroborated data currently in the public domain purported to be TSTT’s customer information, and it should be noted that the various TSTT platforms generate terabytes of data,” the company said. Meanwhile, the Communication Workers’ Union of Trinidad and Tobago (CWU) issued its own statement on Monday, blaming TSTT for the hack due to its alleged repeated refusal “to spend money on cyber security.” According to the CWU, “At our Press Conference held on October 16, 2023, the CWU alerted the public to TSTT's network allegedly being hacked. The CWU is, therefore not at all surprised that the hacker group known as Ransomexx has added TSTT to their list of victims. Moreover, the group has claimed that they have access to over 6GB of data from TSTT inclusive of personal information on customers. It is important to state that this is not the first time TSTT has been hacked and once again it could have been avoided. The Union's information is that this hack was caused as a direct result of TSTT's willful and deliberate negligence. The company's Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Shiva Ramnarine, as far as we have been made aware, has allegedly, repeatedly refused to spend money on cyber security, claiming that it's too costly. They are now paying the price for his actions and the incompetence of Ms. Lisa Agard's leadership as CEO. The Union believes that they are acting inimical to the best interest of TSTT, and any serious Board of Directors or Government would have fired them already. Today, we renew our call for the immediate dismissal of both Shiva Ramnarine and Lisa Agard as they have compromised not only the interest and revenue earning capacity of TSTT, but they have compromised the privacy and confidentiality of the customers of TSTT and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago on a whole.” The statement continued, “If the Board of TSTT, led by Sean Roach, who knows little or nothing about Telecommunications, is not willing to fire them, then we call on the Government to immediately step in and act with alacrity in the best interest of the company, the customers of TSTT, the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and the State. Nothing less will suffice. Maybe the next time we hear the Minister of Public Utilities speak in Parliament about TSTT, it will be to say that they have ceased the undeserved bonus payment to the management of TSTT and that they have fired both Shiva Ramnarine and Lisa Agard.” The statement from the CWU concluded by saying, “If the Board of Directors of TSTT and the Government cannot execute the simple and warranted dismissals of Shiva Ramnarine and Lisa Agard, then they are not ‘fit for purpose.’ We call for the support of the workers and public. LISA AGARD and SHIVA RAMANARINE must go!!!!! Someone must be held accountable.” More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Newsday] We are a small operation. If you've found our articles to be informative, please consider supporting us via PayPal or buying us a coffee. Your contribution is incredibly appreciated and goes a long way. Simply sharing our articles also helps us. Sign up for our free WhatsApp Alerts to be notified as soon as we post breaking news. NEW! 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