What is with the Philippines and hacked email accounts?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

In the last two weeks, I received weird emails from friends using Yahoo and both from the Philippines. I contacted both people, both accounts were hacked, and they can't access them.

[apple21 953]

Are they fond of connecting to public wifi or they always use public PC at computer shops?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Are they fond of connecting to public wifi or they always use public PC at computer shops?

They have smart phones and iphones, one is in the US and the other is in the Philippines. I believe the one in the Philippines has a broadband connection at home. Chances are they are probably using wifi when it is available.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And I don't think they know each other.

[Hank_ 9,174]

In the last two weeks, I received weird emails from friends using Yahoo and both from the Philippines. I contacted both people, both accounts were hacked, and they can't access them.

Yup my wife's best friend had her yahoo account hacked also, and she couldn't get back in, she moved to gmail. Weak passwords...

[TIBERIUS REX 0]

If your friends have Facebook, I am 99% sure that this stems from your friends downloading certain apps and Facebook games or clicking malicious links in Facebook.

[Chris&Maureen 1]

I would suggest adding two-step verification to accounts that support it. It can save a lot of hassle, and also protect yourself from losing accounts. GMail with Google Authenticator works well if you're using a smartphone, otherwise text messages are sent. I believe Yahoo also has two-step authentication now but without an app just text messages.

[ljmp_10 105]

I experienced the same. My yahoo mail was hacked (or whatever it is they call). I am using my iphone, laptop and sometimes public pc whenever i have to print out something. So for the past few weeks, i was always asked to change password. And the last time i tried to access it, its locked. I did try to change password again, but what i got i always "cannot change password online". I cannot access it anymore!!!

I tried to call the yahoo customer service, but they told me that they cannot right away fix it. They instructed me to email the support group, which i did, for them to make neccessary action. 2 days after, they emailed me saying "the issue with your email has been resolved, you may now log in using your last password used". Thanks God! I thought i will not be able to retrieve it again. Correspondence from NVC and impt emails are there. :-)

[Atencio 43]

I would say the problem is Yahoo not the Philippines. I would switch to Gmail.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Well its not really Yahoo either, its a weak password issue more than anything. Hotmail when through this for quite awhile (not its gone... Hotmail that is) and it requires updating the password to something strong to keep the hacker from cracking it.

Its helps to test the password. http://www.passwordmeter.com/

[Jim-Michelle 5]

Well its not really Yahoo either, its a weak password issue more than anything. Hotmail when through this for quite awhile (not its gone... Hotmail that is) and it requires updating the password to something strong to keep the hacker from cracking it.

Its helps to test the password. http://www.passwordmeter.com/

I think Yahoo has some blame too since the system doesn't seem to respond to brute force attacks....which is where having a weak password will get you into trouble. Yahoo seems to be the target of choice for hacker/spammers. It seems like every time there's a spam/trojan link sent to one of the mailing lists I follow, it comes from someone using a Yahoo mail account. There's obviously some reason the bad guys target these accounts.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ya I agree, Hotmail had the same issue, heck even my Hotmail was hacked one time, but I rarely used the account so it didn't benefit anyone doing it, except I got spam from myself.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

For Yahoo, there are ways to increase your security, for instance, don't save passwords in your browser, that is the first place malware looks to steal your i.d., and if you are on an unsecure network, don't keep logged into to your email, or other sites. Even on a secure network, don't leave your account open when if you walk away from your device for any reason.

Gmail is more invasive to your privacy than yahoo ever was. For the longest time, you were not allowed to access a Gmail account on a government computer. The poor security back then has been replaced by how many different ways Gmail is integrated into the internet experience, Android, Chrome, etc.

One mistake people make, and you should never do when setting up an account, is use the same password for your email accounts as you do for other accounts. Obvious, I know, but how many times when you want to set up an account, the first thing your are asked is to give your email account, and then a password.

Edited May 12, 2013 by The Patriot

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ya Google has its fingers in many pies....

[thepizzadude 26]

I would say this is a yahoo issue or they would not have said "you can now access it with the last password used". Why would they fix something that had been hacked and obviously whoever did the hacking would then have access again.