MTN Confirms Cybersecurity Breach

MTN Group, Africa's largest mobile operator, has confirmed a cybersecurity breach that led to unauthorized access to personal information of customers in select markets. While the company has not disclosed the specific number of affected customers or the nature of the compromised data, it has assured stakeholders that its core network, billing systems, and financial services infrastructure remain secure and fully operational .​

In response to the breach, MTN has initiated its cybersecurity response protocols and is collaborating with relevant country authorities and law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident. The company is also in the process of notifying affected customers in compliance with local legal and regulatory obligations.​

MTN has issued a public advisory urging customers to remain vigilant and adopt recommended cybersecurity practices, including:​

• Avoiding the sharing of sensitive information such as passwords, PINs, or one-time passwords (OTPs) over phone calls, SMS, or emails.​

• Placing fraud alerts on credit reports with major credit bureaus.​

• Regularly updating MTN, MoMo, and banking applications.​

• Using strong, unique passwords and changing them frequently.​

• Avoiding suspicious links and messages.​

• Enabling multifactor authentication where available.​

The incident underscores the growing vulnerability of digital infrastructures as cybercriminals increasingly target telecom giants and financial institutions. MTN has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its systems and the trust placed in it by customers and other stakeholders.​

As the investigation continues, customers are advised to stay alert and follow the recommended security measures to protect their personal information