get_iplayer Digest, Vol 42, Issue 6

[Colin Law]

On 4 October 2013 18:54, Dennis Smith <m1dlguk at gmail.com> wrote:
> The owner of the email address being used is probably unaware their
> account is being used like this, they may be an idiot for not
> protecting their PC or accounts adequately, and that is a matter of
> debate but they are not the one sending the emails. Ill protected
> passwords or or accounts are easy pickings for a spammer and it only
> takes you to click a carefully crafted link and your passwords are
> anyones. This person has been on this list for at least 2 years.
>
> Simple rules to prevent being a victim.

[snipped lots of good stuff]

Also, the commonest way email accounts are hacked is by persuading
someone to go to a dodgy website, usually by clicking a link in an
email you have received from someone you know who has already been
hacked.  You realise this is a dodgy page and leave the page.  Then
you get a popup saying you have been logged out of your email and
asking you to put your username/password in, this is not in fact from
your email system but is a page put up by the hacker, and by entering
your credentials you immediately allow him to hack in.  So any time
you get asked for your username or email address and password make
quite sure that it is valid.  It may be a good copy of hotmail's login
page for example.  If in doubt shut down your browser and start again,
typing in hotmail.com (or whatever) in the browser address bar to get
back to your email again.

Colin