LinkedIn Password Hacks Cause More Problems Across Other Profiles

LinkedIn was hacked, confirmed by LinkedIn on 6/6/2012

LinkedIn has updated their blog indicating that there was a breach, and several LastPass staff members who used unique passwords for LinkedIn only, as well as numerous individuals not associated with LastPass, have confirmed that LinkedIn’s database has indeed been hacked.

Was your LinkedIn password hacked?

As LinkedIn is not telling us whether our passwords are at risk, it is incumbent upon us to be proactive, and quickly! First things first. Go immediately to LinkedIn and change your password. And if you are using the same password across multiple sites, stop what you are doing right now and go change them as well. Let’s face it, when it comes to password management, we tend to do what is easiest, and cyber thieves count on that! Even presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been a recent victim.

The same hackers responsible for the theft of over 6.4 million LinkedIn passwords also acquired passwords from the popular dating site eHarmony.

Check to see if your password was hacked

Here is how to check if your LinkedIn password was among the hacked accounts that are already being used to generate phishing attacks. Go to LastPass.com/linkedin and check your current password. Even if it has not been hacked, as you can see mine has not, change it anyway!

How you can secure your passwords

1. Get a password manager like Power LogOn so you don’t have to remember or type passwords.
2. Use very secure , complex, long passwords that can’t be broken using brute force or social engineering methods.
3. Just because a question is asked doesn’t mean you have to give the correct answer. For example, if they ask for your favorite pet, type in your first car. If they ask for your first car, type in your favorite teacher. Remember, computers are stupid and will give back what you gave it. So lie.