AT&T says Thursday's network outage was not the result of a cyberattack. The national outage started before dawn Thursday, and service was fully restored at about 5 p.m.
"Based on our initial review, we believe the outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack. We are continuing our assessment to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve," the Dallas-based company posted on X.
"That's a lot of information but doesn't really tell anybody anything," said Michael Moore, founder of M3 Networks in Southlake.
M3 Networks provides IT support and consulting for businesses. Moore said AT&T may find out later someone in one of its divisions did something wrong, or the outage was the result of a successful attack on a contractor.
"Many times in the past when a company has said it's been the application of a process that's gone down, it's ultimately been something somebody did wrong or a cyberattack," he said. "They don't always want to admit they're at fault because that lowers their stock price."
Thursday morning, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) posted on X, "I don’t know the cause of the AT&T outage, but I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion And it won’t be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water, and your bank."
"One hundred percent it's a preview," Moore said. "When the big cyberattack happens, and that's not an 'if,' it's a 'when,' which systems, protections, and processes will you have in place to prevent your business or you personally from being ruined?"
Moore said individuals and small businesses can protect themselves. He said many steps are simple, and they are all cheaper than cleaning up after an attack.
He urged business owners who rely on an internet connection to have a second connection in case the first one drops.
Moore said small business owners often think hackers are using elaborate technologies or some expensive process to get access to their accounts. Instead, he said they will use the simplest option they can.
"If you look at any of the stuff that's out on how the Chinese, Russians, Nigerians, local actors get in and destroy businesses of everyday Americans, it's basic things small business owners don't do," Moore said.
At most businesses M3 Networks works with, Moore said they find people often use the same passwords for every application. He said they also do not use complex passwords.
"If you do not start planting the seeds of your own protection and being proactive, the only person you can blame when you have a significant amount of money stolen is the person in the mirror," he said.
Moore said work like his may not come cheap, but it can save people money long-term. He said many times, people come to him after they have already lost money.
"Cardiologists see people every day who have heart attacks. The reality is, as a cardiologist, you don't want anybody to have a heart attack," Moore said. "But often when people have these significant events in their lives, that's when they start to change their behavior and take things not for granted anymore."
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