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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.

11 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Welcome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny


    You've got problems!

  2. Also in the news ... by BabyDave · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guinevere compromised. Faulty key mechanism in chastitybelt.dll blamed.

    1. Re:Also in the news ... by mickwd · · Score: 5, Funny

      Did someone find a backdoor ?

    2. Re:Also in the news ... by jaeson · · Score: 5, Funny

      No they used a Trojan.

  3. Re:wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Posting a loss does not mean that they did not make a profit. It just means that they have good accountants. ;)

  4. Can I get that e-mail list? by Cyclone66 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll finally have a complete killfile for usenet!

    1. Re:Can I get that e-mail list? by russx2 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, it's *@aol.com

    2. Re:Can I get that e-mail list? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      ME TOO!!

  5. Many things "MAY" have happened... by microTodd · · Score: 4, Funny

    "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
    1. Re:Many things "MAY" have happened... by Blackknight · · Score: 3, Funny

      And monkeys may fly out of my butt.

  6. A/S/L?!? by Munra · · Score: 3, Funny

    A user id/Specialised ID code/Lame couple of passwords?!!?!