August 21, 2001

9:17 AM

Hotmail HackedNow everyone can gain access to your e-mail for Viagra orders, penis enlargements, and diploma purchases. Giddie up! (via penismighter)
posted by aaronchristy (10 comments total)

sorry mate it's already been fixed. Then again, don't we all use our hotmail accounts as spam holders anyway?
posted by hannahkitty at 9:58 AM on August 21, 2001

True, anyone who keeps anything of worth in a hotmail account is a doofus and will get no sympathy from me. Why use Hotmail when there are so many free web based accounts out there that work just as well if not better (and it ain't hard to work better, believe you me) than this eye candy piece of crap.

Personally, I prefer disinfo myself.
posted by Dagobert at 10:16 AM on August 21, 2001

I think that any Microsoft product is targetted by hackers/crackers/etc. a million times more than any other. Not only are Microsoft's products ubiquitous, but the company also has an "evil empire" image, making it the perfect target. I'm sure that its competitors' free web email (yahoo, excite, whatever) is equally as insecure, but it's just that people aren't trying to hack them that hard.
posted by panopticon at 11:05 AM on August 21, 2001

You sir, have hit the nail on the head. I salute you.
posted by yupislyr at 1:15 PM on August 21, 2001

Well, yes, you're right panopticon, but Microsoft software also has nowhere near the level of security and maturity of Unix.

The great irony of course is that Hotmail was not originally a Microsoft product. Even after Microsoft bought it, it wasn't a "Microsoft" product for years (meaning that it still ran on Free/BSD with the "aid" of no Microsoft software despite the adamant wishes of Microsoft techies). Of course, as soon as it became a Microsoft Product (Windows NT/2000), it became horribly unstable and insecure.

This is just the latest flaw in the Microsoft/Passport/Hotmail system.
posted by fooljay at 1:34 PM on August 21, 2001

The reason why people might use hotmail instead of other free internet accounts, is that hotmail doesn't have pop-ups, doesn't shut you out for no reason very often, and has filters. I don't get any messages in my in-box that aren't from people on my address book.
Also, people know how to spell hotmail without being
prompted, which was not a benefit of the last place I had my email.
posted by stoneegg21 at 4:04 PM on August 21, 2001

Thank God for that . . . I thought someone was trying to tell me something...
posted by feelinglistless at 4:08 PM on August 21, 2001

Penis mighter?
posted by sudama at 4:45 PM on August 21, 2001

Penis mighter?
Actually, it's PenIsMightier.com
posted by aaronchristy at 9:06 PM on August 21, 2001

Here's what Hotmail Support had to say on the matter:

Dear Hotmail Member:

Thank you for writing to Hotmail Support.

I understand your concern about the URL that shows the ways to hack Hotmail.

The "How To Hack Hotmail" Web site contains false information. The individual who created the Web site asks you to send your account name and password (along with the account you want to hack in to) to an account that the webmaster claims is owned by Hotmail Staff. But that account is really owned by the hacker, not Hotmail. Then this individual can steal your account name and password and hack into your account.

NOTE: Hotmail Staff never asks you for your current password, either by e-mail message or phone. To protect your account security, we advise you to click "Options" to the right of the "Address Book" tab to change your password and secret question and answer immediately.

Thank you for taking the time to forward us the URL so that we can take appropriate action against the Hotmail account implicated.

I hope the above information has cleared your doubts regarding the issue. In case you have any query in future, please feel free to write to us and we will be glad to assist you.

Please remember that MSN Hotmail also has comprehensive online help available--just click Help in the upper right corner.

Sincerely,


MSN Hotmail Customer Support Representative
posted by {savg*pncl} at 12:58 PM on August 23, 2001