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What kind of information was stolen from Yahoo?
According to a statement by Bob Lord, Yahoo’s chief information security officer, the stolen data may have included “names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth,” and security information including passwords, plus security questions and answers.
How are passwords encrypted in Yahoo data breach?
According to Lord, most of the passwords had been cryptographically secured with a hashing scheme known as bcrypt. This uses a mathematical function to convert plain-text passwords into a long string of text that is then stored on the company’s servers.
What can hackers do with stolen passwords?
Hackers can use stolen credentials to craft emails that have the veneer of legitimacy, according to Nigam. Such emails might disclose the answer you gave to a security question, for example, and then ask if it’s still up to date and request more information.
When did the Yahoo data breach take place?
Most of the passwords stolen in the massive data breach at Yahoo were encrypted, the company says, but that doesn’t mean consumers are safe, according to security experts interviewed by Consumer Reports. On Thursday, Yahoo confirmed that information from a half-billion user accounts had been stolen from the company’s databases in late 2014.
What happens if you lose your Yahoo password?
If your password falls into the wrong hands, someone can easily impersonate you while online, sign your name to online service agreements or contracts, engage in transactions, or change your account information. On Yahoo, there are a few ways that you can prevent unwanted access of your account.
What to do if you suspect someone has changed your Yahoo password?
Verify your Yahoo account information. From time to time, make sure your information is accurate and that no one has changed your data. If you suspect someone knows the answer to your secret question and any other information asked on the Sign-In Problems page, contact the Yahoo account security team as soon as possible.