AOL Finally Admits They Were Hacked

pdclarry writes: "Anyone managing email servers or lists has suspected for several weeks a major hack of AOL's servers, based on a sudden spurt in spam ostensibly from AOL email addresses (but actually spoofed) and sent to the contact lists of those AOL accounts. Of course, there is a steady stream of such spam from hacked individual accounts on many services, but the magnitude and suddenness of the most recent spam attack argues against individual account invasions. Well, AOL has finally come clean. Apparently unknown individuals accessed AOL's servers and took screen names, account information including mailing addresses, contact lists, encrypted passwords and encrypted answers to security questions. And possibly credit card information. AOL claims that it affects 'only' 2% of their members, but recommends that everyone change their passwords and security questions."

Comments

Re:2%?

[Anonymous Coward]

I signed up for a free @netscape.net email address circa 2001. That one still works, but it's been an AOL alias for many years now.

When will Yahoo admit it?

[gander666]

Seems like 2 or 3 contacts a week with Yahoo mail accounts gets hacked every week. I really wish Yahoo would get their shit together too.