Slashdot Mirror
AOL's Merlin Compromised?
Neophytus writes "The Inquirer reports that AOL's central customer database, Merlin, may have been been compromised by crackers. This, even though it required 'a user ID, two passwords, and a specialized ID code' to gain access to. That's 35 million user's names, addresses, emails and credit card details - a goldmine for spammers and fraudsters alike. As they they put it, 'AOL can now add another accomplishment to its list: Biggest security disaster in ISP history.' The Register is also running a story explaining why this is not particularly likly, though."
Here's the
original Wired story.
You've got problems!
Gandalf wouldn't have gotten whooped so easily. Time to upgrade.
Wow thats insane..i just closed merlin to go on break (free pizza weekend)..and i this popped on on slashdot. Insane!
"Comedy's a dead art form. Now tragedy, that's funny."
Guinevere compromised. Faulty key mechanism in chastitybelt.dll blamed.
Posting a loss does not mean that they did not make a profit. It just means that they have good accountants. ;)
I'll finally have a complete killfile for usenet!
These boys need to get laid.
If AOL would subsidize this, they would see their security problems disappear overnight.
also - I think Dick Tracy foreshadowed the cracking method used by these kids years ago with its "Mumbles" character.
So by using that as an indicator, we should next look for people wearing bright colors and having odd facial features to be part of the next crack.
There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
how cute- the script kiddies are angry at each other while some steal all the glory.. awwww
mix_master_mike
vafrous
-Ster
"AOL's central customer database, Merlin, may have been been compromised"
What a stupid comment. In other news...
"Aliens MAY have invaded Italy..."
"Saddam Hussein MAY have a gay lover..."
"I MAY have sex with Liv Tyler tonight..."
"You cannot find out which view is the right one by science in the ordinary sense." - C.S. Lewis on Intelligent Design
Sure I'm losing money on every customer, but I'm making it up on volume.
As I understand it that's the actual business plan of Amazon.
KFG
Here's how to hack any AOL account, for educational purposes only.
FBA agents recovering evidence from the 15 year old cracker's "apartment" in his parents' basement, found a copy of The Art of Deception by Kevin Mitnick, who was prompty returned to solitary confinement while authorities make up a reason for his arrest.
A user id/Specialised ID code/Lame couple of passwords?!!?!
Yup, and it looks like the nice friendly AOL folks just nuked everything in Mr. Eeyore's home directory there. I'm sure he'll have some nice friendly men in black suits showing up at his door in a few hours, and then he'll have some explainin' to do to his mommy and daddy.