AOL email hacked: Several users complain about compromised accounts
You’ve got (spam) mail.
Several AOL users are complaining on Twitter that their email accounts have been hacked and are being used to send out spam to others.
Multiple users have said that their accounts have been affected despite not being used in a long time. Among them is Los Angeles Times Food Editor Russ Parsons.
“I’ve gotten a couple of emails from friends telling me that my AOL account had been hacked and that they were getting spammed by it. The thing is, that account has been closed for at least two years,” Parsons said in an email.
It’s unclear how widespread the problem is or what is causing it. Users are complaining that changing their accounts’ passwords is not resolving the problem, as is usually the case when an email account has been hacked.
AOL has not addressed the situation and could not be reached for comment.
[Updated 3:50 p.m. PDT April 21: AOL said it is working on resolving the issue. The company said users can go to AOL’s help website to check on the latest updates and said that users should contact AOL if they believe their account was hacked.
“AOL takes the safety and security of consumers very seriously, and we are actively addressing consumer complaints,” the company said in a statement. “We are working to resolve the issue of account spoofing to keep users and their respective accounts running smoothly and securely.”]
If you get an email from an “@aol.com” account that looks suspicious and contains a link, do not click on it.
Here’s what users are saying on Twitter:
Major Security breach #aol #AOLHacked so if anyone gets email with attachment from my AOL account in next 72 hrs please delete immediately.— Frances Mair (@FrancesMair) April 21, 2014
#AOLHacked email addresses old and new being spoofed and hijacked the address book @aol this long time user needs a fix!— gisella (@lelazee) April 21, 2014
So my parents have been #AOLhacked, their account is sending spam mail. Changing password and malware scan didn’t help. Sooo annoying :/— Jule with SHIELD (@Ashqtara) April 21, 2014
I’m not sending you an email. Promise. #AOLHacked— Jennifer Thielker (@JThielker) April 21, 2014
I’m a long time AOL user... An old contact list was stolen and spoofs were sent to all 2,225. When will aol come clean #AOLHacked— Robert A. Picard (@robpicard) April 21, 2014
Funniest thing about #aolhacked is everyone trying to justify why they’re still using aol! #justlists #youknownothingspecial— James Chandler (@jamesontherye) April 21, 2014
ALSO:
Apple campaign touts progress on reducing environmental impact
AT&T announces 21 potential markets for ultra-fast Internet service
Heartbleed: Most of the Web’s top sites now immune to bug, firm says
