Are You One Of The 21 Million Hotmail Users That You Are Being Hacked?
By skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
Singapore
October 6, 2009 4:32am CST
If you are residing in UK and have been actively using your Hotmail account, then you just might be the up to 21million people and businesses who use the email service that is potentially at risk of being defrauded after passwords were acquired illegally.
It seems like these passwords are being obtained by hackers who created a fake website identical to Hotmail's to fool users into entering their email address and password. The scam is known as 'phishing'. The list of users was then posted anonymously on to website pastebin.com on October 1. It contained email addresses and passwords for more than 10,000 European users with email addresses starting with an A and B, prompting fears that there could be additional lists.
Currently it appears only accounts used to access Microsoft's Windows Live Hotmail have been posted, this includes @hotmail.com, @msn.com and @live.com accounts.
It is feared that the information could be used by fraudsters to access email accounts and steal personal information such as credit card account details.
So, to all the Hotmail, MSN and Live account users, please be careful and change a new password for your account access.
Take care.
Ref:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218272/Microsoft-Hotmail-accounts-hacked-posted-online.html
1 person likes this
2 responses
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
6 Oct 09
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8291268.stm
According to the BBC it is 10,000 accounts that were published online so there is no way to keep up with who has the usernames & passwords. They said on Chicago news that the accounts affected started with the letter A or B (approx 5,500 each). They are asking all hotmail users to change their passwords today to protect their accounts.
I just hope they catch whoever did this. I never change my password from a link in an email. Even when I receive an email saying I need to change my password, I go to the site from my keyboard/bookmarks & then change my password after I've logged in. I've sent emails to ALL my hotmail friends warning them to change their password.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
7 Oct 09
LadyMarissa,
Yes, you are spot on about other email clients being affected as well and I just would like to advise that you do be very careful.
Do be patient and meticulous.
All the best.
Ref:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218272/Microsoft-Hotmail-accounts-hacked-posted-online.html
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
6 Oct 09
Dear skysuccess,
Thanks for the valuable informaton. I do not have the above accounts.
But my son have. I better informed him to change password. He has
some important data that may access to payment from his online earning!
This 'phishing' activities is illegal, will it be able to trace the hackers?
Thanks and take care!
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
6 Oct 09
Iriene88,
You are welcome.
If your son has some bank account or credit card details in the email account, then please monitor your accounts closely. If possible, inform the bank to change a new credit or debit card to avoid unnecessary fraudulent charges which you might have to bear.
Also, don't be too happy as this latest phishing attack has also gotten other email clients like AOL, Comcast, Earthlinks, Gmail and Yahoo. So, please be aware and take the necessary precautions. Don't access your online email accounts from the original websites.
Take care.
Ref:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218272/Microsoft-Hotmail-accounts-hacked-posted-online.html
