Thousands of Hotmail users hacked (BBC Technology news report)
BBC News has seen a list of more than 10,000 e-mail accounts, predominantly originating from Europe, and passwords which were posted online. Microsoft said it had launched an investigation. BBC News has confirmed that the accounts are genuine and predominantly originate in Europe. The list included details of Microsoft's Windows Live Hotmail accounts with email addresses ending hotmail.com, msn.com and live.com.
Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing details such as bank accounts or login names. "We are aware that some Windows Live Hotmail customers' credentials were acquired illegally and exposed on a website," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers."
Technology blog neowin.net was the first to publish details of the attack. It said the accounts were posted on 1 October to pastebin.com, a website commonly used by developers to share code. Although the details have since been removed, BBC News and Neowin has seen a list of 10,028 names beginning with the letters A and B.
Quick change
Mr Cluley advised Hotmail users to change their password as soon as possible. "I'd also recommend that people change the password on any other site where they use it," he said.
Published, courtesy of the BBC website at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8291268.stm
Click to read this "How to recognise and avoid e-scams" in which you will find links that will help you learn how to identify and stay away from malicious links and websites
Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing details such as bank accounts or login names. "We are aware that some Windows Live Hotmail customers' credentials were acquired illegally and exposed on a website," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers."
Technology blog neowin.net was the first to publish details of the attack. It said the accounts were posted on 1 October to pastebin.com, a website commonly used by developers to share code. Although the details have since been removed, BBC News and Neowin has seen a list of 10,028 names beginning with the letters A and B.
Quick change
Mr Cluley advised Hotmail users to change their password as soon as possible. "I'd also recommend that people change the password on any other site where they use it," he said.
Published, courtesy of the BBC website at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8291268.stm
Click to read this "How to recognise and avoid e-scams" in which you will find links that will help you learn how to identify and stay away from malicious links and websites
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2 feedback :
The Hotmail security breach is an embarrassing blow to U.S. technology giant Microsoft.
Technorotic, I am afraid other big companies also suffered the attack, not amounts to at least a total of 30,000 accounts compromised.