SK Telecom’s Cyber Oopsie: 27 Million Subscribers Exposed in 3-Year Malware Marathon

SK Telecom’s three-year cybersecurity oopsie exposed USIM data of 27 million subscribers. The breach was a malware marathon that started in 2022, starring 25 malware types across 23 servers. The company is now in damage control mode, issuing SIM replacements and boosting security, while promising to take full responsibility for any fallout.

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Hot Take:

Oh SK Telecom, you had us at “undetected for nearly three years.” This incident is a painfully perfect case study for what happens when a cybersecurity breach plays the long game. Who knew malware could be so patient? It’s like the tortoise and the hare, but with data theft! And while the tortoise might have won the race, in this story, everyone definitely loses. But fear not, SK Telecom’s on the case with a SIM card swap party for all 27 million subscribers! It’s like Oprah, but instead of cars, you get a SIM card! You get a SIM card! Everybody gets a SIM card!

Key Points:

– SK Telecom’s cybersecurity breach exposed USIM data of 27 million subscribers.
– The malware infection started in June 2022 but was only detected in April 2025.
– 23 servers were compromised, with 25 data types affected.
– SK Telecom is issuing SIM replacements to all subscribers to mitigate SIM-swapping risks.
– The company has halted new subscriber enrollments amid ongoing investigations and fallout management.

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