Gmail Users: Read This...

[jsteele]

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/hacked/8673/?single_page=true

Read what happened when James Fallows' wife's Gmail account got hacked. Most of the article would apply to Yahoo as well.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing jeff

[Anonymous]

This should really say "everyone read this". My yahoo account got hacked earlier this year, using what I thought was a strong password but had used on other less secure sites. I have since updated it, but it was a real eye-opener. GREAT article and everyone should read it and follow the steps at the end!

[Anonymous]

This is helpful, and my yahoo account was hacked (but nothing near this serious and I was just able to change the password and it's been fine) but I'm astounded that this woman essentially stored her life on one gmail account.

I depend on my work email quite a bit to store a ton of things, but I feel that is really secure, and of course it's all work related, no personal stuff.

I really don't have that many personal things on email. Very few pics are stored there, and I back up any important documents elsewhere. I absolutely depend on email but it's not a one stop shop. But the article did have some great tips.

[Anonymous]

A friend's hotmail account was hacked and I actually received an "I got mugged in London" letter from her account, very similar to the one described in the article. So, I guess, it's a pretty common scheme.

However, in my friend's case,none of her contacts actually fell for it. I guess we're a cynical bunch.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. I can see this can happen to anyone. What's the biggest takeaway? Better passwords?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I can see this can happen to anyone. What's the biggest takeaway? Better passwords?

It not just about the password, but also about the use of the passwords.

I'll admit I'm guilty of many of the things in the article.

[Anonymous]

thanks - eye opening.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing. Scary.

[Anonymous]

Did the fact that the computer was left in sleep mode make the gmail account more vulnerable to attack? Since the article starts out with this scenario, I assumed there was a connection, but didn't see any later discussion confirming it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I can see this can happen to anyone. What's the biggest takeaway? Better passwords?

Also, diversify where you keep your important stuff. Sounds like this woman didn't do that. Back up digital photos on your hard drive or another online site. If you have meaningful emails from a loved one you would like to keep as letters, back them up somewhere or print them out as if they were letters and bind them.

I have four email accounts - one for work stuff, which has no personal stuff, one for the bulk of my personal email, one for my two different list-servs (because I get so many emails per day and don't like that mixed up with my main personal email account) and one with my maiden name for spam. When I order stuff online or when I HAVE to supply an email address to something I will use that one.

That may sound like overkill but I would advise at least two accounts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I can see this can happen to anyone. What's the biggest takeaway? Better passwords?

Good passwords, plus Gmail's two-step verification system for security. I have used this ever since reading about it online awhile back (WSJ maybe?).

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Did the fact that the computer was left in sleep mode make the gmail account more vulnerable to attack? Since the article starts out with this scenario, I assumed there was a connection, but didn't see any later discussion confirming it.

No, I don't think leaving the computer in sleep mode had nothing to do with it. I believe it was only mentioned to provide context as to how the hack was discovered.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did the fact that the computer was left in sleep mode make the gmail account more vulnerable to attack? Since the article starts out with this scenario, I assumed there was a connection, but didn't see any later discussion confirming it.

No, I don't think leaving the computer in sleep mode had nothing to do with it. I believe it was only mentioned to provide context as to how the hack was discovered.

Okay, thank you. I often leave my computer in sleep mode, so good to know!

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I thought about changing my password after reading the article, worried about remembering it, and then just said f-it and changed it anyway. Scary stuff!