How hackers swipe your Linkedin password
Ever wondered how hackers steal passwords and instal malware into your computer? Devote 3 minutes to watching Anthony De Rosa finding out how it's done:
Looks easier than you would have thought, doesn't it? But considering that American researchers took control of a flying drone by hacking into its GPS system – acting on a $1,000 dare from the US Department of Homeland Security perhaps it should come as no surprise. We could actually all, in theory, be assassinated by a hacked drone. Compared to that your, having your Linkedin account hacked is peanuts.
One hundred percent cyber security – mission impossible?
Personally believe that if a hacker wants to get you, he will succeed. It's just a question of how long it takes. And the same goes for your computer being used to send spam all over the world without you knowing it. One of my email addresses was for a while hi-jacked by Russian spammers selling Viagra in my name. Took me a long time to find the trojan and get rid of it. Shows you the importance of logging out from your email accounts all the time, doesn't it. And not to forget, the danger of using public computers.
Even though being one hundred percent protected is most likely impossible, we still have to protect ourselves as much as we can. For instance just learnt from my friend Sherryl Perry, who is a cross between a computer geek, teacher and entrepreneur, that Google Chrome has to be upgraded at the moment since there are serious security problems with it. So if you haven't upgraded to the 20.x version click on the link and do so.
Do you practise the suggestions shown in the video to make it more difficult for a hacker? What else do you do to protect yourself online? Have you ever been hacked? If so, what did you learn from the experience? Do you believe one hundred percent cyber security is possible? What would you do if your Linkedin account was taken over by hackers doing all kinds of things in your name?
Video: ReutersTV
About Catarina AlexonNär Europa och USA brottas med ekonomiska problem kanske det är dags att fundera på nya marknader? Eller en omprioritering?
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Tags: Anthony De Rosa, cybersecurity, Department of Homeland Security, flying drone, Google Chrome, GPS, hackers, Linkedin, Sherryl Perry, spammers, viagra
July 1st, 2012 at 13:57
Thanks on the tip regarding GoogleChrome, am upgrading right away. The cyber world is as a scary as a dark deep tropical jungle and we need all the protection possible.
July 1st, 2012 at 14:00
I hesitate to say that I have not ever been hacked. I don't believe in 100% security…if someone can code it, someone can hack it. Most of my strategy is to treat web and email as a postcard that anyone can read anytime. I will not provide any more information about me than absolutely necessary.
The advice here to close and reopen your browser sounds reasonable, is something I don't practice but will in the future.
July 1st, 2012 at 14:13
My pleasure Lubna. Glad you are upgrading Google Chrome.
July 1st, 2012 at 14:14
Glad we agree Neil. What can we do? There is no way of being 100% protected. So we just have to do what we can.
July 1st, 2012 at 17:25
Hi Catarina very interesting article. One thing I noticed is that linked in doesn't use https, which means there is no encryption of data when you're browsing the site, which facebook, hotmail, and gmail uses. In my experience the most vulnerability occurs when surfing on an open connection (public wifi for instance), using a malicious flash website, or just running a program with a virus on it. I access my email through SSL probably one of the most secure ways to receive email, especially on your phone. Another thing I do is a keep 3 sets of passwords, one for banking/critical info, one for semi important, and one for websites I register for and just come across. This way if a site I've registered for gets hacked, they don't gain access to my important accounts. Thanks for keeping us informed!
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July 1st, 2012 at 17:34
Thank you and you seem to know what you are doing. Are you into acupuncture and programming computers?:-) Interesting combination.
Personally do acupuncture on myself, but there is no way I could program a computer:-)
July 1st, 2012 at 18:15
That's a great video Catarina. I hadn't seen it before but I've been around IT (Information Technology) for so long that those are all tips that I have followed for so long that they've become habits. You've done everyone a service by writing this post. We can't be too diligent.
I agree that no one can be 100% secure but hackers are going to target the point of least resistance. So, don't make it easy for them and you may escape unscathed.
Thanks for the shout-out! I'm glad that I was able to give you the "heads up" about Chrome. This just reinforces how important it is to stay connected with other bloggers who have different skill sets from our own. It helps us to stay on top of different aspects of this online world that we're living in.
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July 1st, 2012 at 21:08
Sherryl, somehow I'm not surprised that you already use the tips mentioned:-). Have learnt a lot from you about the online world and had fun doing so.
July 2nd, 2012 at 09:43
This scared me. I'm using Chrome as my main browser and will have to check if it's updated!
July 2nd, 2012 at 10:37
You should Joan. Mine wasn't updated so I did it manually.
July 2nd, 2012 at 12:00
Thanks for the post, Catarina. I think there are a number of things everyone should do to protect themselves as far as possible from hacking and viruses:
1. Use a software tracker that tells you of all/any updates required for all the software on your PC. Remember, that Windows Update only looks at Microsoft software and most people have a lot more. I uses Secunia PSI (it's excellent and free!) and have been doing so for about 10 years.
2. If you get a message from a friend that looks unusual (e.g. just a link with nothing else), DON'T open that link. Rather respond to your friend to check whether they sent it (there are several of my friends who've had their accounts hacked in the past month or so and emails with links are going out in their names). The same goes for files sent as attachments without a reasonable explanation.
3. Of course, it goes without saying that you need a comprehensive AV suite installed on all devices, as well as something to monitor the URLs in your web browsers and alert you to anything suspicious.
4. Don't use public PCs for internet banking or email at all, and restrict use to browsing only to sites not needing you to log into them. Key logging software abounds and you really don't want your passwords uploaded to a server somewhere.
It really is about using common sense as the video says – and when in doubt, don't continue. Better to be safe than sorry as the saying goes.
July 2nd, 2012 at 12:52
Excellent advice Guy! Will have a look at Secunia PSI.
July 2nd, 2012 at 13:08
GRACIAS Catarina for the inf.
July 2nd, 2012 at 14:38
My son is an internet computer security consultant. A darn good one. I'm not saying that solely as a mom – he has authored 3 books, been on Fox News MANy times. He advised me years ago to NEVER click on links from websites I am a member of. Simply go to the site and log in and see if there really is an issue. I also change my password regularly. Great article Catarina.
My recent post How Linkedin Can Help Introverts Get High-Quality Sales Referrals
July 2nd, 2012 at 16:51
Congratulations to having such a gifted son Pat! Did he also tell you how hackers swipe passwords and install malware?
July 2nd, 2012 at 16:53
De nada, Leo. We all need to know what we can do to increase online safety.
July 2nd, 2012 at 17:07
This is a very timely post as I received a suspect LinkedIN email just this morning. Appreciate the video and the tips that are so easy to apply.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 17:43
Glad the timing was good, Keyuri.
July 2nd, 2012 at 19:29
Catarina — thanks for bringing this problem to our attention. When my email was hacked a few months ago I finally started using different passwords for the various accounts and sites I visit. Only problem is I have to constantly look them up! But that's better than being hacked.;
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July 2nd, 2012 at 19:30
I know more from him than I can answer in a reply! One aside, as a computer security consultant he HAS to know how hackers do everything they do.
My recent post How Linkedin Can Help Introverts Get High-Quality Sales Referrals
July 2nd, 2012 at 19:41
My pleasure Jeannette!
Was your email also hacked by Russian spammers? Maybe, like me, you started peddling viagra, of all things, to your contacts, without knowing it?:-) Actually had a few laughs about it with friends.
July 2nd, 2012 at 19:41
Hoep he is really successful Pat.
July 2nd, 2012 at 23:56
Hi Catarina,
Like you I had an email address hacked and peddled Viagra. I only click on Links from those I know and decided ages ago to have complicated passwords. That said the hackers are getting more sophisticated and there is only so much you can do.
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July 3rd, 2012 at 10:43
Glad I'm not the only one who peddled Viagra, Susan:-) Like you I don't click on links but there seems to be many ways they hack you, unfortunately. Do what I can to protect myself, but after reading a book about Swedish hackers I understand that there is no way of being 100% protected.
July 3rd, 2012 at 16:32
I checked Google Chrome and it is updated. I never thought about closing the browser after banking. Now I will do exactly that. While, I don't think 100 % cyber security will be a dream, we can be careful not to get hacked. using different passwords for banking and not sharing them is very important. Hackers usually want that type of information.
But, the threat of getting hacked should not prevent us from living life to the fullest.
July 3rd, 2012 at 16:53
Thanks…quite frightening though. I logged out of my Google account whilst I was reading this. It shows how easy it is to get into lazy habits. A bit like walking in a crowded area with your wallet sticking out of your back pocket!!
July 3rd, 2012 at 17:11
Yes what hackers can do is frightening:-) And we cannot ever get 100% safe. Read a book about Swedish hackers and teenagers get into the Pentagon and other top US military installations. If they can't protect themselves, how can we?
July 3rd, 2012 at 17:15
Bindu, seems you are the first one that had Google Chrome updated in your computer. The good thing in Sweden is that you don't use passwords for internet banking. You get a little gadget that's used and come up with different combinations of numbers every time you log in. Presumably it's a safer way?
July 3rd, 2012 at 17:24
Catarina, great post on hacking a site. Just the other day I was telling a client to pick a good password. She really wanted something terribly simple and hackable. It took a bit of coaxing to get her to realize hacking is quite possible.
Good advice in this video – like don't click on links in emails, use a variety of passwords on various sites, close browsers, and be aware of the url when logging into any site.
My recent post When Small Business Owners Should Ignore Social Media
July 3rd, 2012 at 17:37
Glad you like it Leora. Catch is when they swipe passwords the way shown in the video it doesn't matter how complicated our passwords are. They get them:-)
July 3rd, 2012 at 19:09
I can say only one-thing to you Catarina and that is Thank you very-much for the "Very Very Valuable Information" you have given us through the video! Thanks again Catarina!
July 3rd, 2012 at 19:16
My pleasure Jyoti! It's good to know, isn't it.
July 4th, 2012 at 11:30
Great post Catarina & really interesting video. Totally creepy there are hacker 'how -to programmes' on line. My website was hacked a couple of months ago & Sherryl Perry was incredibly helpful in going through a list of things to do. She has a post on keepupwiththeweb.com which deals with this issue. The inroads were minimal , so I was lucky. The idea of identity theft is really scary.
Since then I have more complex passwords and also more things with separate passwords – I clumped too many things under one password before, only keeping separate passwords for banks etc. It's a drag, because there's only a few I can remember, but feel it's worth the extra hassle.
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July 4th, 2012 at 11:44
Glad you it AK. Sorry to hear you web site was hacked but not surprised Sherryl helped you out. We have to protect ourselves as much as we can, even though hackers are far too creative for the common good:-)
July 4th, 2012 at 15:25
Great article Catarina! We sometimes get lazy and forget the basics. Thanks for the reminder! Cheryl from LinkedIn. BTW – my password on LinkedIn was hacked. Changed that pretty quickly.
July 4th, 2012 at 16:56
Thanks Cheryl. Somehow am not surprised that you like the article and video:-) Glad you sorted out your hacked Linkedin account.
July 6th, 2012 at 21:06
Thanks Catarina. I need to get on a program of changing my passwords on a regular basis, AND logging out of my email accounts. This is a good reminder. And seeing the video put it before my eyes just how easy it is for someone to hack you and you are not at all aware–just carrying on business as normal and they are hacking you!
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July 7th, 2012 at 12:06
Yes Bethany, it's amazing how easy it is isn't it.