Hotmail users getting locked out
Imagine getting an e-mail from a friend or family member with the following subject line: "ITS IMPORTANT YOU GET BACK ME TODAY."
CNET is aware of a couple of Hotmail users who have recently gotten locked out of their accounts. In one case, someone who had hacked into an account sent a desperate-sounding e-mail asking for money under the account holder's name.
Microsoft had no direct comment.
The body of one of the e-mails, sent to a CNET reporter, reads:
"I am in a hurry writing this mail. I had a trip to oxfordshire, United Kingdom for an urgent event . Unfortunately for me all my money got stolen at the hotel where i lodged from the attack of some armed robbers and since then i have been without any money i am even owing the hotel here,So i have only access to emails,my mobile phone can't work here so i did not bring it along. Please can you lend me $1500 so i can return back and settle the hotel bills i would return it back to you as soon as i get home, I am so confused right now. You can have it sent through western union."
The owner of the Hotmail account was confirmed to be at home, safe.
"If a customer at any time suspects their account has been accessed by an unauthorized party, they should contact our customer support team, a Microsoft representative said.
That's exactly what a second locked-out Hotmail user did in early May. Microsoft support staff responded with the following message: "Thank you for your message to MSN and Windows Live Privacy. I understand you are having difficulties accessing your MSN Hotmail account because you believe someone has gained unauthorized access to your account. For assistance with this issue, please contact the MSN Support staff using the (following) form." The message is signed by Raktim from MSN and Windows Live Privacy.
After filling out the form, several weeks passed, and the Hotmail account holder said he has still received no further response from Microsoft.
"Microsoft is committed to helping consumers have a safe, secure, and positive online experience," a company representative said Thursday. In the case of the first e-mail, Microsoft worked with the owner to restore her access. In the case of the second, it's still pending. "As always, we reiterate our general guidance to customers to help protect themselves and their accounts by exercising extreme caution when opening unsolicited attachments and links from both known and unknown sources, and that they install and regularly update antivirus software," the representative said.
Without addressing what might have occurred regarding the second person's account, Microsoft appears to be blaming the user: if you had used more caution, you probably wouldn't be in this situation.
The Microsoft representative mentioned the company's online security and safety best practices for customers, including specific guidance on how to help protect your Windows Live ID account security. But when it comes to protecting your free Hotmail e-mail account, users appear to be without much recourse.
As CNET's resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security. Listen to his podcast at securitybites.cnet.com or e-mail Robert with your questions and comments. 
Needless to say, 4 hours after the email went out, her friend regained control of his account thanks to the people at google.
As a former MSN Customer Support Staff Employee, the most common hacks I've witness, occur when a free hotmail account holder receives an official-looking email from what appears to be from Microsoft or MS Windows Live, warning the reader that unless they reply (or click on link) and supply certain private info (passwords, etc) to verify account ownership, their account will be SHUT DOWN!!!
Unfortunately the reason MS Customer Support isn't much help, is because if your hotmail account was never part of a paid MSN account, it simply wont pull up on the MS support agent?s computer system when they type it in, virtually rendering your account... INVISIBLE!!!
As an MSN agent when I used to answer many such calls, I really felt bad for the person on the other line, but with the limited knowledge gained thru training we had there was just no way around it, until one day when... I FOUND A LOOPHOLE IN THE SYSTEM!!!
This loophole will not only allow you to regain access to your account, but you will receive the same level of respect, service and protection usually reserved for other MSN accounts that often cost as much as $300 yr. or more and I can show you how to do it for less $50.
If you?d like more info on regaining access to your account contact me at ratedx_7@yahoo.com for detailed instructions.
Needless to say, 4 hours after the email went out, her friend regained control of his account thanks to the people at google.
Needless to say, 4 hours after the email went out, her friend regained control of his account thanks to the people at google.
"Microsoft is committed to helping consumers have a safe, secure, and positive online experience," a company representative said Thursday.
Typical M$ BS. Translation: "we're committed to telling you we want to help, but it's your own fault and you're on your own." You simply can't sleep with the devil and then complain that he was rough with you.
Hello ,
sorry I didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa.on a particular
program.ABMP. The campaign emphasizes personal initiative in combating HIV/AIDS
.the website is http://www.itbeginswithyou.org/. Honestly, I don?t believe
that i could encounter this (particular) trial, the (uninvited) circumstance,
the(embarrassing) difficulty, Without a doubt these are some of the most
difficult times that many people have encountered simultaneously in a while. I
misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money,and other valuable
things were kept. instead of looking out and grumbling.I don?t mean to offend
in any way, but I just had to say what I feel.
I got motivated to reach you,assist me with some money,
to the tune of (£2000) pound to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.readily and
honestly appreciating whatever you can afford,I'll pay back upon my return.
The money could be wired through western union money transfer with the
information bellow.
NIGERIA!!!!! sent to all my contacts from my email account that MS will do nothing about....
Soembody pleasepost their most recent positive solution to this.... My entire contact list has received the following email from my account from some guy in Nigeria????
Hello ,
sorry I didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa.on a particular
program.ABMP. The campaign emphasizes personal initiative in combating HIV/AIDS
.the website is http://www.itbeginswithyou.org/. Honestly, I don?t believe
that i could encounter this (particular) trial, the (uninvited) circumstance,
the(embarrassing) difficulty, Without a doubt these are some of the most
difficult times that many people have encountered simultaneously in a while. I
misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money,and other valuable
things were kept. instead of looking out and grumbling.I don?t mean to offend
in any way, but I just had to say what I feel.
I got motivated to reach you,assist me with some money,
to the tune of (£2000) pound to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.readily and
honestly appreciating whatever you can afford,I'll pay back upon my return.
The money could be wired through western union money transfer with the
information bellow.
Then he precedes to use my name etc..... I cannot beleive that a company as world class as MS, wouldn't have a solution for this???? And I'm dumb enough to own two vista laptops and a vista desktop, with the Office 2007 Suite?????
- by Serenity_ree May 13, 2009 10:16 AM PDT
- Over the past 5 years I have held and actively used email accounts with Hotmail/Windows Live Mail, Yahoo, and Outlook. I am careful to create strong passwords, use a perscription security suite, and am very careful in opening attachments and clicking links within my mail. Not once have I had any issues of anyone hacking into my accounts.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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- by RichRotorhead June 8, 2009 5:54 PM PDT
- I'll have to agree with Serenity_ree.
- Like this
-
(14 Comments)I agree with Microsoft to a degree. If people do not use precautionary steps and actions with their email accounts they do hold responsibility for unauthorized access and use. It states right in the TOS that users must be careful and that Microsoft (or Yahoo!) cannot be liable for unauthorized access. Why should Microsoft spend a bunch of money fixing errors that were the responsibility of the user, not Microsoft? I am tired of hearing people moan and groan and blame anyone other than themselves when things go wrong in their lives. I am tired of people not accepting personal responsibility for their own actions. Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, and other email providers provide a free service to the public (unless a user opts in for a higher paid version) and yet people are not grateful and blame the company for their own mistakes.
I do not see the outrage of Microsoft basically telling a user that it was their fault and they needed to deal with it. Microsoft provides a great deal of free services to the public. It is my experience that Microsoft is helpful and timely in responses to issues not of my own making. Even issues where it was questionable who was at fault Microsoft has always come through. I can only imagine that some people do not tell the entire story in order to get people to feel sorry for them and buy into their opinon of their own victimhood.
Most of these hacking are easily avoidable if you're just careful and use common sense.
As a former MSN Customer Support Staff Employee, the most common hacks I've witness, occur when a free hotmail account holder receives an official-looking email from what appears to be from Microsoft or MS Windows Live, warning the reader that unless they reply (or click on link) and supply certain private info (passwords, etc) to verify account ownership, their account will be SHUT DOWN!!!
Unfortunately the reason MS Customer Support isn't much help, is because if your hotmail account was never part of a paid MSN account, it simply wont pull up on the MS support agent?s computer system when they type it in, virtually rendering your account... INVISIBLE!!!
As an When I used to answere many such calls, I really felt bad for the person on the other line, but with the limited knowledge gained thru training we had there was just no way around it, until one day when... I FOUND A LOOPHOLE IN THE SYSTEM!!!
This loophole will not only allow you to regain access to your account, but you will receive the same level of respect, service and protection usually reserved for other MSN accounts that often cost as much as $300 or more and I can show you how to do it for less $50.
If you?d like more info on regaining access to your account contact me at ratedx_7@yahoo.com for detailed instructions.