I see more and more people online handing out new addresses and profile names because their msn/facebook’s been hacked, or some other website or social network’s been “hacked” into. Why does it happen to these people? Are the people doing it really that malicious and greedy or is it more likely that the users own stupidity and lack of concern for security has left a seemingly irresistable open door?

The largest problem is identity theft and getting someones so-called “personal details”, it’s had plenty of coverage in the news, with people finding out their bank statements and other important documents had been pinched from their bins yet people happily put personal information on websites, allowing the public to view it.
The problem with this? I’ll give a real-life example: A user creates a Windows Live or Google account, they then select a password they think is secure, even though in reality it’s probably something quite simple, and here’s where they come unstuck, the security question they will use in the event they forget their password. Examples are “mothers maiden name”, “mothers birthplace”, “first school”, “the name of a pet”. At the time (bearing in mind this has already been done years ago before you made your facebook), it seemed like a good secure question and answer, but is it?

The answer is, most probably not. You’ve probably put half of those details on Facebook, Myspace or some other social network / blog service without even thinking about it, details to … Read the rest