Yahoo says Hackers Stole Data from 1 Billion User Accounts

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In September 2016, Yahoo acknowledged that data from over 500 Million user accounts had been stolen. The announcement followed a report by Vice’s Motherboard which stated that a potential security breach may have taken place at Yahoo in which 200 Million records were stolen and later sold through the dark web.  The majority of the data stolen included usernames, passwords, dates of birth for individuals as well as well as backup addresses for various users with most of the data from 2012.

In a new announcement on its blog, Yahoo says over 1 Billion accounts have been hacked. Yahoo says the hack is separate from the one reported in September. The firm states that the stolen data includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords (using MD5) and, in some cases encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. The firm states hackers were not able to make away with passwords in clear text, payment card data, or bank account information.

Yahoo says it is notifying users affected by the breach and asking them to change their passwords. It has also said its proprietary code had been accessed by a hacker, who used the code to forge cookies that could be used to access accounts without a password. The firm is thus notifying the affected account holders, and have invalidated the forged cookies Yahoo further say they have hardened their systems to secure them against similar attacks.

The news comes just after Yahoo was recently acquired by Verizon Wireless for $5 Billion. Yahoo was at one time the most valuable companies in the world with a market capitalization of $125 Million. The company, however, failed to compete effectively owing to increased competition in search by companies such as Google; competition on social media owing to rise of companies such as Facebook and on the Video front with the rise of YouTube and others. The firm also failed to have a stable leadership to guide its transition.

11 COMMENTS

  1. If you have a Yahoo account, maybe it’s time to switch to Gmail. If you already have a Gmail account, **Stop Laughing** 😉

    • Why? What makes you think Yahoo is inferior, other than the hack? I own several accounts by several web-based hosts such as (yes,) Yahoo, Outlook and Gmail. Of course, my Gmail became my main a/c (as use of Android grew), with Outlook a close second (use of Nokia Lumia phones).

      Yahoo became reserved as a backup a/c, acting as a secondary email account to send forgotten passwords (that already changed). It is not an active a/c, but it still served its purpose. God knows what else I used it for, before Gmail grew in prominence and versatility.

      So again, your disapproval for Yahoo is still under question. Other than the hack that became public after US law enforcers made its discovery in the dark web, what makes it inferior? Also, what makes many out there think that it is only Yahoo that has been breached? This (from May of this year) should stop everyone who’s laughing at Yahoo. Yes, @disqus_tNgggG1EUh:disqus. Tell them to stop laughing, because it ain’t funny when even your gmail account may or may not have been accessed.

      • 1. “my Gmail became my main a/c” yet Yahoo is not inferior.
        2. “Yahoo became reserved as a backup” yet Yahoo is not inferior.
        3. “It is not an active account”, yet Yahoo is not inferior.
        4. “Gmail grew in prominence and versatility”, yet Yahoo is not inferior.

        Oh boy, too many contradictions, reminds me of Trump, maybe its because Gmail wins the electoral college while Yahoo wins the popular vote.

        • You need to understand the question, then answer it.

          First, I asked you: What makes you think that Yahoo is inferior, other than the hack. I do not contradict myself, at all. I nowhere claim “Yahoo is not inferior”. I give my own reasons why it grew old on me. You are yet to explain your stance

          Second, Trump (with all his contradictions) still wins. So, something to think about.

          Finally, other than the hack, what makes you think that anyone who still uses Yahoo should be hacked? Please answer objectively, thank you.

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