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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Hotmail accounts 'posted online' | Hotmail accounts 'posted online' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Hotmail passwords have been hacked and posted online, BBC News has learnt. | Thousands of Hotmail passwords have been hacked and posted online, BBC News has learnt. |
| 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". | 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 accounts, which technology blog Neowin.net said 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 blog suggested the accounts had been hacked or had been collected as part of a phishing scheme. | 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. | Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing personal details such as bank accounts or login names and passwords. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "It could just be a subset that they posted online." | "It could just be a subset that they posted online." |
| 'Rapid response' | 'Rapid response' |
| Neowin claims the details were posted on 1 October to pastebin.com, a website commonly used by developers to share code. | Neowin claims the details 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. |
| "Most appear to be based in Europe," Tom Warren, a neowin blogger, wrote on the site. | "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". | 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. | "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. | |
| "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. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |