Rich posted some interesting links regarding passwords, especially when securing networks, financial stuff, etc. - maybe a little overkill for email accounts of little importance, but certainly worth reading - if you care to adventure into geekdom, as opposed to old school crank technology. :)
> From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 21:15:00 -0400 > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Newton's Law to prevent hacking > > > Curt, > > This happened to me a few years ago, it is embarassing even though it is not > your fault. Nice examples you have, I hope people pay attention. > > Graham Newton put together a nice piece which I send out, I did ask him > first. I call it Newton's Law and these days I see more and more people get > hacked. > > Thanks, > > Steve > > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 19:40:11 -0400 > > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Newton's Law to prevent hacking > > > > > > Steve,I couldn't agree with you more... If I am using any common words in > > my password, I also use a number while at the same time holding down the > > caps lock. So, for example: phonograph9087, becomes phonograph()*&, which > > is more secure than a word and number. You can press CAP lock on any part > > of your password - for example: PhoNoGrApH and it becomes more secure...Curt > > > > > From: [email protected] > > > To: [email protected] > > > Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:56:49 -0400 > > > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Newton's Law to prevent hacking > > > > > > > > > Please read Newton's Law: > > > > > > Steve > > > > > > > Hello to all, The key thing I have noted lately is when a person's > > > > e-mail is hacked there is (no subject) in the subject. There are two > > > > main types of hacking, the first someone discovers your e-mail password > > > > and send from you e-mail, this is easy to fix with a new password. I > > > > have used roboform for years and I have over 100 passwords, it really > > > > helps. The second type they just make it look like it came from your > > > > e-mail, but there is nothing in your sent box. This is embarassing, no > > > > one will intentionally send something like that on the list. If your > > > > password is weak add characters and read what the famous Mr. Newton has > > > > to say: > > > > Please read... this is important: > > > > > > > > There have been an increasing number of times over the past 6 months > > > > where > > > > spammers have signed up to email lists or managed to hack into mail > > > > list email > > > > accounts and thus making you a victim of this rapidly increasing > > > > spamming method. > > > > > > > > Here's how and what happens and how to prevent you falling for this: > > > > =================================================================== > > > > > > > > A spammer hacks into your email account and uses it to send spam to > > > > your entire > > > > address book making it look like YOU have sent the spam. > > > > > > > > It is usually selling phony Viagra, other drugs, promoting porn sites > > > > or a > > > > "make money fast" scam, ALL of which are skillfully designed to part > > > > you with > > > > your hard earned money. > > > > > > > > If you have a fairly sizable address list the spammer will break up the > > > > list > > > > and send a number of different messages to cover your entire address > > > > book > > > > without raising undue suspicion. > > > > > > > > You won't probably know anything about this until it is too late or > > > > until > > > > someone advises you about the phony messages sent under your name, > > > > apparently > > > > by you. > > > > > > > > HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS AND STOP IT: > > > > ================================= > > > > > > > > Once you become aware of this, you need to immediately sign in to your > > > > account, > > > > if you still can, and change to a secure password ASAP! The spammers > > > > usually > > > > don't change your password because they don't want to raise your > > > > suspicions > > > > that anything is out of the ordinary. They will keep coming back and > > > > send more > > > > spam under your name until YOU stop them! > > > > > > > > See below for what is secure for a new password. > > > > > > > > I suggest you immediately advise everyone in your email address book. > > > > > > > > Look in your SENT mail... you will likely see everyone who got the > > > > messages. > > > > You will probably receive bounced returns as well. If those returns > > > > were all > > > > out of your address book, you can bet the spammer sent to every one of > > > > them, a > > > > few at a time so as not to raise your ISP's suspicions with a pile of > > > > outgoing > > > > identical emails! > > > > > > > > You ask... how did they find your password? My bet is they did a > > > > dictionary > > > > attack. Was your password a small 6-8 character common word? You are > > > > one of > > > > many who has had this problem in the past few months. > > > > > > > > I'd give your friends a "heads up"... remember the spammer now has ALL > > > > their > > > > addresses and you can bet they'll be doing dictionary attacks on them > > > > as well. > > > > If you don't change your password, they'll be back with more spam. > > > > Change it to something secure from a dictionary attack... use something > > > > like:- > > > > > > > > apple*sauce other symbols are also good~^+=| > > > > > > > > Two words separated by a symbol is secure (but don't use my example!). > > > > > > > > Oh yes... If you haven't had this happen to you, AND you still use a > > > > weak > > > > password on your email account, then it is only a matter of time before > > > > a > > > > spammer rolls you over! They love email accounts because they usually > > > > lead to > > > > a pile of email address that they can use to send their drivel to. > > > > > > > > Go to your email account NOW WHILE YOU THINK ABOUT THIS > > > > > > > > CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD TO SOMETHING SECURE! > > > > > > > > I've written about this before recently, and people who ignored my > > > > warning have > > > > since been taken by the spammers... you can bet there will be more! > > > > > > > > ... Graham Newton > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Phono-L mailing list > > > > http://phono-l.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Phono-L mailing list > > > http://phono-l.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.org > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
