"Thousands" of Hotmail accounts leaked online

 

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Posted on 5 Oct 2009 at 16:16

A technology blog claims to have seen part of a list detailing "over 10,000" Hotmail accounts, including usernames and passwords.

The details were posted to programming site pastebin.com on 1 October, according to Neowin.net. It reports that the list has been removed, but that it saw it "and can confirm the accounts are genuine and most appear to be based in Europe."

Neowin reports the accounts include email addresses which end @hotmail.com, @msn.com and @live.com. Most immediately this puts users' email accounts at risk. However, the Microsoft Live network goes far beyond email, with Windows Live accounts also controlling access to Windows Live Blogs, the Xbox Live service, and the new Windows Mobile Marketplace.

Microsoft has confirmed the leak. "We are aware that some Windows Live Hotmail customers’ credentials were acquired illegally and exposed on a website," the company claims in a statement.

"Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers."