21 July 2011
Posted in
Internet Security
Hotmail hacking is rife and can cause you serious hassle, maybe even lose you some money. There are lots of horror stories out there, but some simple steps to ensure your security will alleviate most potential problems.
You happily spend time locking up your physical possessions, so please spare a moment or two to secure your online assets.
Some basic Hotmail Security tips:
- Change your password regularly, and use something secure (your favourite football team is NOT secure, use something with a combination of letters and numbers, or even some symbols)
- Run regular full scans using your Anti-Virus application, and maybe some extra checks as detailed in our notes below.
- Do NOT access your Hotmail account from public WiFi Spots (Airports, Cafes, etc) as there are scanners capable of picking up signals and stealing information.
- Do NOT log into your Hotmail account from a computer others have access to and tick the 'Stay Logged In' option - this will allow the person following you to gain instant access to your account.
- Check your Hotmail Profile, and ensure nobody has set up an 'Alternative Email' in your settings without your knowledge, as this is a back-door Hotmail offer to you when setting your account up, and it is manipulated by hackers to retain access to your account.
- Periodically, check your SENT Email Box, to ensure there are no emails going out that you are not aware of.
It is not rocket science to ensure you are more difficult to hack than the average Hotmail account, but it does require you to perform some basic security functions from time to time. The same basic tips apply to other online email accounts (Gmail, etc).
Some further reading regarding Hotmail Security and Hacking:
- http://www.askdavetaylor.com/has_my_hotmail_account_been_hacked.html
- http://help.ninemsn.com.au/support/hotmail/account_hacked.asp
- http://blogs.msdn.com/b/securitytipstalk/archive/2010/07/07/hotmail-hacked-take-these-steps.aspx
- http://yahootips.com/Email/Windows-Live-Hotmail/What-to-do-if-windows-live-hotmail-contact-list-hacked.aspx
- http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-check-if-your-email-account-has-been-hacked.htm
- http://explore.live.com/windows-live-hotmail-security-checklist-faq
Additional Software to keep your PC clean from Malware:
It is not advisable to have more than one piece of Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware software running resident on your PC, but you can download any of the following FREE software and use it to run manual scans periodically, ensuring that you keep well ahead of the Malware fiends. Any which give you the option to buy software, ignore it, the free option will help well enough. Also, if there is an option to install either security toolbars, various browsers, or to 'start up when Windows starts', then untick these too.
AVG Free (this is a full AV package, so only use it as an alternative to what you have or if you currently have nothing running)
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