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Hotmail accounts 'posted online' Thousands of Hotmail users hacked
(20 minutes later)
Thousands of Hotmail passwords have been hacked and posted online, BBC News has learnt. Microsoft has confirmed that thousands of Hotmail accounts have been compromised in a phishing attack.
Microsoft, which owns the popular web-based e-mail system, said that it was aware of the claims and that it was "investigating the situation". BBC News has seen a list of more than 10,000 email accounts and passwords which had been posted online.
BBC News has seen a list of more than 10,000 accounts, which technology blog Neowin.net said had been posted online. The software giant, which owns the web-based e-mail system, said that it "had launched an investigation".
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 other private data.
Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing personal details such as bank accounts or login names and passwords. "We are aware that some Windows Live Hotmail customers' credentials were acquired illegally and exposed on a website," said a Microsoft spokesperson.
"At the moment we don't know how the hackers got the passwords or how many they got," Graham Cluley, consultant at security firm Sophos, told BBC News. "Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers."
"It could just be a subset that they posted online." Quick change
'Rapid response' Graham Cluley, consultant at security firm Sophos, told BBC News that the published list may just be a subset of a longer list of compromised accounts.
Neowin claims the details were posted on 1 October to pastebin.com, a website commonly used by developers to share code. "We still don't know the scale of the problem," he told BBC News.
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.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.
BBC News has confirmed that the accounts are genuine. BBC News has confirmed that the accounts are genuine and predominantly originate in Europe.
"Most appear to be based in Europe," Tom Warren, a neowin blogger, wrote on the site.
The list included details of Microsoft's Windows Live Hotmail accounts with email addresses ending hotmail.com, msn.com and live.com.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.
Mr Cluley advised Hotmail users to change their password as soon as possible.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."I'd also recommend that people change the password on any other site where they use it," he said.
Around 40% of people use the same password for every website they use, he added.Around 40% of people use the same password for every website they use, he added.
Hotmail is currently the largest web-based email service.Hotmail is currently the largest web-based email service.
Do you have a Hotmail email account? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.Do you have a Hotmail email account? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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