Former Army Veteran Admits Guilt in AT&T Cloud Hacking Case, Major Call Data Breach, and $500K Extortion Attempt Against Senior Government Officials

The frequency of cyberattacks on telecommunication companies in the United States is increasing, particularly the exploitation of system vulnerabilities and the theft of sensitive information. Major carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, have recently suffered significant breaches that compromised user data and diminished consumer trust. A notable incident involved an attacker infiltrating internal systems, acquiring personal data from numerous users, and threatening to leak this information unless demands were met. Cameron John Wagenius, the individual behind this attack, has now accepted responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty to federal charges.

Ex-Soldier Admits Guilt in Extended Cyberattacks on AT&T and Verizon

Between April 2023 and December 2024, Cameron John Wagenius, who is just 21 years old, perpetrated breaches against AT&T and Verizon’s internal systems. Known online by the aliases “kiberphant0m”and “cyb3rph4nt0m, ”Wagenius executed a series of cyberattacks, some of which coincided with his time in active military service. On a recent Tuesday, the former U. S.Army soldier formally pleaded guilty to a range of exploitation attempts targeting major telecommunications providers.

Wagenius’s arrest took place in December 2024, near a U. S.military base in Texas. His downfall came when he boasted on social media about accessing President Trump’s call records, which drew the attention of federal law enforcement and led to his apprehension. Following his guilty plea, he faces serious charges, including wire fraud, extortion, and identity theft. He is at risk of receiving a prison sentence of up to 27 years, with his formal sentencing scheduled for October 6th. Additionally, Wagenius admitted to unlawfully transferring confidential phone records.

In a statement, Allison Nixon, Chief Research Officer, hailed this outcome as a significant victory in the ongoing battle against cybercrime. While discussing the rapid federal response, she remarked:

This is one of the most significant wins in the fight against cybercrime. The cybersecurity workers helping the victims through a storm, federal law enforcement with the fastest federal arrest I have ever witnessed, and the prosecutors now destroying them in court – all brought their A game and they deserve to celebrate tonight.

Authorities have confirmed that the breached data included sensitive information such as phone call and text records, which were compromised through unauthorized access to Snowflake’s cloud environment. AT&T has also acknowledged that nearly all of its customers’ data was affected. This situation underscores the urgent need for telecommunications companies to enhance their cybersecurity measures to prevent such breaches from causing widespread damage.

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