For several years now, we’ve been warning Yahoo users against using Yahoo services, because of lax security and, in our opinion, failing to update hardware and software to protect its users from privacy violations. Now it comes to light that a half-billion Yahoo users have had their Yahoo accounts hacked.
Here’s the story from The Washington Post:
Yahoo says hackers stole info from 500 million user accounts
SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo said hackers stole personal information from 500 million of its user accounts, a massive security breakdown it attributed to a “state sponsored actor.” The breach disclosed Thursday, the latest setback for the beleaguered internet company, dates back to late 2014.
That’s when high-tech thieves hacked into Yahoo’s data centers, the company said. But Yahoo only recently discovered the break-in as part of an ongoing internal investigation.
The stolen data includes users’ names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, hashed passwords, and the security questions — and answers — used to verify an accountholder’s identity.
Last month, the tech site Motherboard reported that a hacker who uses the name “Peace” boasted that he had account information belonging to 200 million Yahoo users and was trying to sell the data on the web.
Yahoo recommends that users change their passwords if they haven’t done so since 2014. The Sunnyvale, California, company said its investigation so far hasn’t found any evidence that information about users’ bank accounts or credit and debit cards were swiped in the hacking attack. It said it has “no evidence” that the attacker is still in Yahoo’s network.
News of the security lapse could cause some people to have second thoughts about relying on Yahoo’s services, raising a prickly issue for the company as it tries to sell its digital operations to Verizon Communications for $4.8 billion…
Yes in 2014 and I was one of them. To each his or her own, but I been with Yahoo right from the beginning.
It was very interesting but not devastating; the interesting part was my contact list that was seriously
hacked. On a side note: TC, I did immediately take action in canceling and ordering up a new replacement.
Thanks to you I just terminated my Yahoo account. I rarely used it and my old E-mail address was still on file. The information you pass along to your subscribers is invaluable and much appreciated.
Rarely used my Yahoo account but when I heard this I went to my Roboform login. Couldn’t login, tried manually but keeps saying incorrect. Used Accountkiller but no way. Not worried but weird.
My ISP is Rogers, and my email address is with Rogers but Rogers uses Yahoo for web mail. I don’t have a Yahoo email address but I can log in and pick up my mail in Yahoo. Would the hacking of Yahoo affect me?
Rather scary all this hacking. Thanks for the info and for keeping us informed and up to date.
It affects everyone who uses Yahoo…including ISPs like Rogers, who use Yahoo’s mail servers.
When they do catch them ! They do not need slapping as usual !!! They need SHOT at the next Sun Rise. Our criminals are treated to kindly for way to long!!! I didn’t know about YAHOO so I will get rid of IT today !!
Thank You for all the help you do for us !!
Charlie
Thank you for letting us know about this. I already wrote a comment above but am hoping I can find out how to log in to delete my account as it will not recognize log in no matter how many times I try and Account Killer won’t work as it needs me to log in it says. Usually you can click on Forgot Password which I didn’t forget but just another avenue I tried to get it to delete. I gave up.
Yahoo support may be able to help you. We only have Yahoo accounts for testing – we rarely ever use anything with Yahoo in its name.
I was under the impression that Yahoo was going to notify those people who got hacked. Are you going or have Yahoo already done so.
Thanks
S
Yahoo has not cared about their users for over a decade – that’s why they are a money-losing company. Yahoo waited 2 years to admit they were hacked and a half-a-billion Yahoo user accounts were compromised. I would NOT count on Yahoo doing anything to assist their users.