Finance Ministry announces exceptional tourism investment opportunities in Assiut    S&P Global Ratings upgrade signals renewed confidence in Egypt's economy: CBE Governor    Egypt seeks to attract Turkish investments in textile, clothing accessories industries    Al-Sisi, Meloni discuss strengthening Egypt–Italy relations, supporting Gaza ceasefire efforts    Al-Sisi, Merz discuss Gaza ceasefire, ways to deepen Egypt–Germany relations    Al-Sisi, world leaders meet in Sharm El-Sheikh to coordinate Gaza ceasefire implementation    EGX closes in green area on Monday, 13 Oct, 2025    URGENT: Trump arrives in Egypt for Sharm El-Sheikh summit, escorted by Egyptian F-16s    L'Oréal Egypt's 10th summit draws over 800 experts, focuses on dermatology    Egypt's central bank offers EGP 75b in T-bills    Egypt's central bank issues EGP 5b FRN T-bonds    URGENT: Netanyahu skips Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit for holy reasons    URGENT: Egypt's Sisi to award Trump highest honour for Gaza peace efforts    Ministers of Egypt، Slovakia sign MoU on environmental protection، climate change    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile actions, calls for global water cooperation    Egypt unearths one of largest New Kingdom Fortresses in North Sinai    Egypt's Health Minister showcases Women's Health Initiative at Berlin Innovation Forum    Egypt unearths New Kingdom military fortress on Horus's Way in Sinai    Egypt Writes Calm Anew: How Cairo Engineered the Ceasefire in Gaza    Egypt's acting environment minister heads to Abu Dhabi for IUCN Global Nature Summit    Egyptian Open Amateur Golf Championship 2025 to see record participation    Cairo's Al-Fustat Hills Park nears completion as Middle East's largest green hub – PM    Egypt's Cabinet approves decree featuring Queen Margaret, Edinburgh Napier campuses    El-Sisi boosts teachers' pay, pushes for AI, digital learning overhaul in Egypt's schools    Egypt's Sisi congratulates Khaled El-Enany on landslide UNESCO director-general election win    Syria releases preliminary results of first post-Assad parliament vote    Karnak's hidden origins: Study reveals Egypt's great temple rose from ancient Nile island    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Egypt's Al-Sisi commemorates October War, discusses national security with top brass    Egypt reviews Nile water inflows as minister warns of impact of encroachments on Rosetta Branch    Egypt's ministry of housing hails Arab Contractors for 5 ENR global project awards    A Timeless Canvas: Forever Is Now Returns to the Pyramids of Giza    Egypt aims to reclaim global golf standing with new major tournaments: Omar Hisham    Egypt to host men's, juniors' and ladies' open golf championships in October    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Quick fix for Hotmail password bug
Published in Amwal Al Ghad on 29 - 04 - 2012

Microsoft has rushed out a fix for a serious bug in its Hotmail webmail services.
The bug allowed a hacker to reset the password for a Hotmail account, locking out its owner and giving the attacker access to the inbox.
The fix was put together because the bug was starting to be actively exploited online.
One security news site reported that some hackers were offering to hack Hotmail accounts for $20 (£12).
Computer security researchers discovered the vulnerability in early April and told Microsoft about it soon afterwards. The bug revolved around the way Hotmail handles the data that must pass back and forth when a user wants to reset their password.
Details of the bug leaked out and led to attackers trying to find a way round it.
Using add-on tools for the Firefox browser, hackers realised they could tamper with the data passing between a user and Hotmail servers in a way that handed them control over an account they targeted.
As knowledge of the bug spread, some started offering to hack accounts for cash and others posted YouTube videos of Hotmail accounts being taken over in real time.
It is not clear how many Hotmail accounts have been hacked by attackers exploiting the bug. Those who have fallen victim will know because they will find they are locked out of their Hotmail account.
With the bug being "actively exploited", Microsoft found a way to fix it and updated Hotmail to close the loophole a day or so later. Now Hotmail servers return an error when attackers try to manipulate data exchanges.
Microsoft issued a short statement about the fix and said no further action was needed by customers.
Hotmail is the world's largest web-based email service and Microsoft claims that it has about 350 million users.


Clic here to read the story from its source.