AfterDawn: News

Over 10000 Hotmail login details leaked to the Web

Neowin has reported this morning that they have received information that login details for over 10,000 Windows Hotmail/Live accounts have been leaked, in one of the largest breaches for the email service ever.

The list begins with the username ararat973@hotmail.com and finishes with blando2713@hotmail.com, with many A-B usernames in between. There are names using Hotmail, MSN, and Live (@live.com etc).



The alleged breach has been reported Microsoft's Security Response Center who has not made any official announcement except to say they are "investigating the situation and will take appropriate steps as rapidly as possible."

Of course, 10,000 is not a large number, given their are 450 million Windows Live accounts currently active, but it may still be prudent to change your password, especially if your username starts with an A or a B.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 5 Oct 2009 14:45

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• 6 comments

• zachm1

  Just another reason why I have always refused to have an email account with Hotmail, MSN or Live. I knew something like this would eventually happen. Too many people have a false sense of security with them. Just like Facebook. If you want your personal data shared with everybody in the world, go with them. Once they get your log in info, God knows the damage they can do.

  5.10.2009 14:58 #1

• wiimatrix

  Quote:Just another reason why I have always refused to have an email account with Hotmail, MSN or Live. I knew something like this would eventually happen. Too many people have a false sense of security with them. Just like Facebook. If you want your personal data shared with everybody in the world, go with them. Once they get your log in info, God knows the damage they can do. Totally agree,I would never join Facebook or anything like it due to secuity reasons and ID Theft.The only Hotmail account i have only contain bogus info and is just used for junk.Time to change passwords! (again)

  5.10.2009 16:21 #2

• slickwill

  Good thing I stopped using my hotmail account, when I started using gmail....back when it was invite only. Those two email addresses listed in the article might be getting more spam mail...b/c they are listed in the article...LOL

  5.10.2009 18:02 #3

• akoli

  Unsure if its related but I got a request to reset my password last week ... cancelled that off and changed my password ... gmail is still my main account and hotmail is for forums and other sites guaranteed to spam me with crap... Although Gmail doesnt seem it like the firewall at my work.

  5.10.2009 18:12 #4

• zachm1

  Quote:
  ......................................................................
  Unsure if its related but I got a request to reset my password last week ... cancelled that off and changed my password ... gmail is still my main account and hotmail is for forums and other sites guaranteed to spam me with crap... Although Gmail doesnt seem it like the firewall at my work.
  ......................................................................
  Oh yes it is very related. Had a few suspicious emails come through my Yahoo account asking for my user name and password as well as all my other personal data. It looked like an email from Yahoo. I forwarded them to Yahoo's security department and they took care of it. Yahoo sent me a reply stating that they were tracing the source of the emails and was never to reply to the sender of the spoofs in any way or divulge any personal data. I call these types of people parasites and should spend 20 life terms in jail.

  5.10.2009 20:02 #5

• Mez

  Hotmail it the worst. Unfortunaly, I am wed to that account having too many connections to various forums. I get replys to 10+ year old posts. AD is not the only forum I use. I have other accounts but the mail to that one is so heavy it would take an effort to really move. Plus I can't do Googles new 'human test' neither can my kids. The letters are too distorted and unlike most apps with that type of challange, you can not change the challange or get an audio. This is the fist huge mistake Google has made. It proves the suits are taking over. They will be garbage in a few years.

  8.10.2009 10:24 #6