Orange Belgium confirms cyberattack affecting 850,000 customer accounts

Orange Belgium disclosed that hackers gained unauthorized access to the personal details of 850,000 customer accounts during a cyberattack at the end of July, though the company emphasized that sensitive information such as passwords, email addresses, and financial data remained secure.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the country’s major telecom provider operator said the breach involved access to customer names, phone numbers, SIM card details, PUK codes, and tariff plans. Orange stressed that no “critical” information was compromised, limiting the potential damage compared to cases involving financial or authentication data.

The company said it immediately blocked access to the affected system once the attack was discovered, tightened security measures, and notified Belgian authorities. An official complaint has also been filed with the Prosecutor’s Office. Impacted customers are being informed by email or text message and advised to remain alert to suspicious communications.

“We advise them to remain vigilant for any suspicious communications,” Orange said in its release, noting that a dedicated web page has been created to provide more information.

The breach comes only months after Orange faced another cybersecurity incident that affected multiple countries, underscoring the growing risks for telecom providers. Industry experts say telecom networks are prime targets for hackers because of the vast amounts of personal data they manage.