Hotmail Hacked

[Qdos Contractor]

I guess this is as good a place as any to ask this.

I logged into my Hotmail account last night to find an email from myself, purveying a range of consumer electrics (wiis, Playstations etc.). On further inspection I realised that it had been sent from me to all of my contacts. The email was sitting in my sent items as if I had done it myself.

How on earth has this happened? Does it mean that a human has actually gained access to my password and physically sent it, or could it just be some sort of virus?

I've obviously sent an email to my contacts explaining it isn't me (some of my aunts probably thought it was a new business venture) and I've changed my password. I've done the same on eBay as I used the same password and the username is obviously available on my emails. Is there anything else I should be concerned about?

Annoyingly there were some contacts on there that I definitely didn't want to be in contact with again. I feel violated.

[BrilloPad]

Have you emailed hotmail about it?

Though I think it is likely to be taken from a virus on your computer - what anti virus do you use?

[Sockpuppet]

I would change all passwords and user names to be on the safe side. Scan PC for viruses and trojans, key loggers and the such like.

[Platypus]

Have you emailed hotmail about it?

Though I think it is likely to be taken from a virus on your computer - what anti virus do you use?

My mother had the same happen, and it wasn't a virus or trojan (I scanned her PC with everything under the sun). Upon searching the web I found this to be quite common. I think it's a human who hacked it (well, guessed the password probably after trying lots of combinations).

Changing all your passwords is I think the best you can do. And do check your PC for spyware/virus etc in case your situation isn't the same as the one I encountered before.

[Turion]

Hacking hotmail accounts is a bit of a sport for some and quite simple. The security is very lax. This was probably done by some kind of bot that harvests these accounts, hacks them and then sends spam to all contacts. Best to ditch hotmail and switch to gmail or other alternative.

[moorfield]

Gmail is great but if you're paranoid about security use https://mail.google.com NOT www.gmail.com in your browser since the latter does not use a secure session (SSL). A tad annoying that.
Gmail seems to have been in "beta" for years I wonder if they will ever sort that out.

[BrilloPad]

My mother had the same happen, and it wasn't a virus or trojan (I scanned her PC with everything under the sun). Upon searching the web I found this to be quite common. I think it's a human who hacked it (well, guessed the password probably after trying lots of combinations).

Changing all your passwords is I think the best you can do. And do check your PC for spyware/virus etc in case your situation isn't the same as the one I encountered before.

I seem to remember there are 4 tests for a strong password? I must google it. I think I should upgrade my hotmail/ebay/paypal/pension/bank passwords...

[moorfield]

I think I should upgrade my hotmail/ebay/paypal/pension/bank passwords...

Yup I did this a while back - funnily enough when those lost data discs stories were in the press.

Would highly recommend www.roboform.com for managing your passwords and logins - worth the licence money.

[Turion]

I seem to remember there are 4 tests for a strong password? I must google it. I think I should upgrade my hotmail/ebay/paypal/pension/bank passwords...

You might as well use your wifes name as a password for hotmail. Hotmail can be hacked into regardless of what password you use.

[BrilloPad]

You might as well use your wifes name as a password for hotmail. Hotmail can be hacked into regardless of what password you use.

Even something generated from this? http://www.roboform.com/password-generator.html