Re: Security Compromised: hotmail.com
Tim O'Connor (tim@roughdraft.org)
Mon, 30 Aug 1999 16:40:32 -0400
At 1:49 PM -0400 on 8/30/1999, you wrote:
> I realize this is incredibly off subject, but i've seen many
> Bananafishers use hotmail.com email address. I just wanted you to know,
> hotmail.com has been compromised. Anyone on the internet can
> read/send/delete your email if you use this service. Please spread the
> word to everyone in you addressbook w/ a hotmail address. Another
> wonderfully secure product, brought to you by Microsoft.*
Thanks for the warning, Jason. Indeed, lots of subscribers are on
hotmail, so it's definitely a matter of concern!
You can find references to the problem in at least two places at the
moment:
http://www.wired.com/news/print_version/business/story/21490.html?wnpg=all
http://cnn.com/TECH/computing/9908/30/hotmail.hack/
Fortunately, it appears that Microsoft has plugged the hole and that
things are back to normal. Unfortunately, there is no news about how
long the hole existed, so it's unclear how long this problem has
persisted. And, as the wired.com article indicates, this is only the
latest in a recent string of Internet security embarrassments for
Microsoft.
> BTW: a No-Prize for anyone who can conjure up some BS to relate
>this to
> Salinger and actually make it an on-topic post.
I guess the best thing I can come up with is that a letter from JDS
would constitute some pretty hot mail, no?
--tim o'connor