Neowin.net mentioned on the BBC News website

By +Frank B.
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Grand Master

+Frank B. Subscriber²

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Hotmail accounts 'posted online'

Thousands of hotmail passwords have been hacked and posted online, according to reports.

Microsoft, which owns the popular web-based email system, told BBC News that it was aware of the claims and that it was "investigating the situation".

A report on technology blog neowin.net said that the details of "over 10,000" accounts had been posted to a website.

The blog suggested the accounts had been hacked or had been collected as part of a phishing scheme.

Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing personal details such as bank accounts or login names and passwords.

'Rapid response'

Neowin claims the details were posted on 01 October to pastebin.com, a website commonly used by developers to share code.

Although the details have since been removed, the website said it had seen part of the list.

"[We] can confirm the accounts are genuine and most appear to be based in Europe," Tom Warren, a neowin blogger, wrote on the site.

He said that the list included details of Microsoft's Windows Live Hotmail accounts with email addresses ending hotmail.com, msn.com and live.com.

Microsoft said it had "been made aware of the claims that Windows Live IDs and passwords have been made available on the web".

"We're actively investigating the situation and will take appropriate steps as rapidly as possible," a spokesperson said.

Neowin said that it recommended Windows Live Hotmail users to change their "password and security question immediately".

souricon.gif News source: BBC News

The BBC fixed the typo in the meantime. Pity they didn't linkify the URL while they were at it.

Edited by Mephistopheles
Mentor

The_Wizard

Posted
Posted
So I take it the accounts have not been hacked directly from MS' servers? These are all resultant from successfully 'phished' accounts from a dodgy clone website of the official Microsoft site?

It looks like it from the article... It must have been a pretty big operation to get 10,000 though

Grand Master

petrossa

Posted
Posted

Too bad. If the BBC starts linking you you loose all credibility as they did years ago as 'objective' reporters.

If you shrink BBC's leftwing propaganda to 1/1000 and paint it pretty pale blue holding a sign i am objective you still can see it's not.

Veteran

That Guy Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
What's there to wonder? Neowin writers blog about what other sites write about.

You find way too many of "According to...", or "X has reported" on the main page of Neowin.

We're a news site, not a blog. Just because we use sources other than ourselves for news posts (usually), that makes us no less of a news site.

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AdzzzUK

Posted
Posted
What's there to wonder? Neowin writers blog about what other sites write about.

You find way too many of "According to...", or "X has reported" on the main page of Neowin.

I don't believe that was the case in this instance, I believe it was a neowin member that alerted Tom (although I have no evidence to back that up apart from the "heads-up" for "Chris" in the article).

I think it's the latest form of spam, social compliance etc. If you get told that someone you talked to on MSN etc had blocked you - then what's the first thing you're going to do especially if you speak to 'em a lot, if you;'re a bit miffed? Sign up. And... oh, look, here's my username and password :/

I expect more attacks like this, if I'm honest. Hotmail is the first casualty. Although I bet it's Windows Live accounts, rather than just Hotmail (ie MSN and everything else).

I may be way off the mark, I've nothing to back this up on - just seems like the logical thing for an organised spammer / phishing organisation to do. Plus, that's what conmen do - you ever seen the Real Hustle??

Great news though, about time Neowin gets the recognition it deserves. Neobond, ya best get ready for the interview...

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AdzzzUK

Posted
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Sky is linking to here too... http://bit.ly/7xOOT.

Just a thought. Neowin is a technology NEWS site, not a blogging site... guess the Beeb and sky don't like the idea of there being other news sites?

As more people find out (bear in mind the west coast of the USA is getting to work now)... neowin is gonna be mega mega busy later...

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