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M1CUK > INFO 06.10.09 01:03l 69 Lines 2476 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 531024M1CUK
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Subj: 21m Hotmail usrs shd change pw
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 091006/0001Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:32966 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:531024M1
From: M1CUK@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : INFO@WW
All 21m Hotmail users urged to change passwords after huge security
breach
Police are urging Hotmail customers to change their passwords after a
massive security breach.
Up to 21million people and businesses who use the email service in the
UK are potentially at risk of being defrauded after passwords were
acquired illegally.
Around 10,000 passwords were 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 is feared that the information could be used by fraudsters to access
email accounts and steal personal information such as credit card
account details.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'We advise people to take
a commonsense approach and change their password. It is early days but
we have yet to receive reports of fraud linked to this breach.'
The breach was announced on technology blog Neowin.net after its
administrator Tom Warren was contacted by a tipster who spotted the
online list.
He said 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.
'The details have since been removed but Neowin has seen part of the
list posted and can confirm the accounts are genuine and most appear to
be based in Europe,' said Mr Warren.
'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.'
A Microsoft spokesman said: 'We are aware that some Windows Live hotmail
customers' credentials were acquired illegally and exposed on a website.
Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the
credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the
impact to customers.
'We are working diligently to help customers regain control of their
accounts.'
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73
Trev,
SysOp gb7fcr.#16.gbr.eu
E-Mail trev@gb7fcr.co.uk
Packet Radio <-> InterNet Gateway
RF & Telnet access
BBS Web Site http://www.gb7fcr.co.uk
WinPack Web Site http://www.winpack.org.uk
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