Identity Theft News

Widespread phishing attack also hits Gmail, are users to blame?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Hackers who stole thousands of email account passwords from Windows Live Hotmail users and posted them to the web also published passwords phished from other popular webmail services including Google's Gmail and Yahoo.

Google told BBC news yesterday that accounts from Gmail, the third most popular web-based email service after Yahoo and Microsoft's Hotmail, were included in the widespread phishing attack that compromised some 20,000 accounts from Hotmail.

Account information from users of Yahoo, Comcast, Earthlink and other webmail providers were also leaked to the web, according to Neowin.net, which initially reported the massive security breach of Hotmail email accounts.

Although users are being advised by Google and others to change or strengthen their passwords, the truth of the matter is that phishing attacks do not rely on cracking passwords - it is users themselves who unknowingly give up their passwords to scammers.

"Even a great password can't keep you from being scammed," Google said on the official Gmail blog.

Security experts said the success of phishing attacks depends on tricking users with spam emails that spoof legitimate companies such as banks and email providers.

Some tech observers are placing the blame squarely on the users themselves.
ADNFCR-1765-ID-19397373-ADNFCR

Related News:

Threat of identity theft shows need for online security - 11.19.2009
As Americans live increasingly large portions of their lives on the internet, the possibilities and incentives for remote identity theft increase as well. A report in the New York Times advises caution, and gives tips for constructing an "online bulwark" to prevent theft and fraud.

Wi-Fi network security vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks on smart phones - 11.16.2009
Researchers last week revealed a weakness in mobile network security that could allow for so-called "man-in-the-middle" techniques to steal personal information from users of certain types of mobile phones.

FDIC warns banks of money transfer 'mules' duped by cybercriminals - 11.2.2009
In a new warning to banks about illicit electronic fund transfers, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said last week that online bank account theft is rising using "money mules," unwitting job-seekers who are duped by cyber crooks into wiring funds from hacked bank accounts.

Obama addresses cybersecurity awareness in YouTube video - 10.21.2009
Online cyber attacks and identity theft have never been higher, a threat environment that challenges U.S. security every day. President Obama has designated October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which he addressed in a web video last week.

Facebook application security hole exposes millions to hacking, researcher says - 10.19.2009
A security researcher is warning Facebook users about potential vulnerabilities in Facebook applications that could allow cross-site scripting (XSS) hacker attacks for hijacking user accounts.
View Related Resources
Or
Watch an Online Demo
Or
Have us call you now