Telecommunications provider Swisscom investigates stolen data

Four data tapes belonging to Switzerland-based telecommunications provider Swisscom have ended up in the hands of Swiss German-language newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ).

Among the predominately internal Swisscom data is 14,500 emails from Swisscom employees, 600,000 phone numbers, and private and business contract details, according to an NZZ story. Swisscom said in a statement that the tapes – containing backup data from 2008 to 2010 – originated from two data centers.

NZZ obtained the tapes from an unnamed source and Swisscom believes the data was acquired illegally sometime in 2012. As such, an investigation is ongoing and Swisscom has filed criminal charges against persons unknown. Swisscom is additionally reviewing its security policies.