LivingSocial security breach

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Klipspringer

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Topic # 116389 27-Apr-2013 19:06

Seems like these security breaches are happening more and more.

This one from Living Social just arrived in my inbox.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

LivingSocial recently experienced a security breach on our computer systems that resulted in unauthorised access to some customer data from our servers. We are actively working with the authorities to investigate this issue.

The information accessed includes names, email addresses, the date of birth of some users, and encrypted passwords; technically ‘hashed’ and ‘salted’ passwords. We never store passwords in plain text.

The database that stores customer credit card information was not affected or accessed.

Although your LivingSocial password would be difficult to decode, we want to take every precaution to ensure that your account is secure, so we are expiring your old password and requesting that you create a new one.

Klipspringer

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Reply # 806447 27-Apr-2013 19:07

Hackers target LivingSocial, stealing the personal data of more than 50 million people in an enormous security breach.

SaltyNZ

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Reply # 806464 27-Apr-2013 19:31

Unfortunately I could not see a 'delete my account' option. Does anyone know where it is?

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gzt

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Reply # 806515 27-Apr-2013 21:34

Yeah, really annoying. Changed my password this morning after the news. Later in the afternoon received the message about the system password reset. Hmm.

freitasm

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Reply # 806530 27-Apr-2013 22:01

I actually never created an account, but might have entered a competition. They took this opportunity to spam my spare email address. Basically they sent an email to everyone in their database. I then checked my eWallet file and I don't have a password. Went to the site clicked "Forgot password" and entered my spare email address.

The results say "Even though you receive our newsletter you don't have an account. Create one now" (no, never received a newsletter).

Basically they not only had a security problem, they took the opportunity to send emails to everyone, regardless of having an account or not. Pretty poor.

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jarledb

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Reply # 806574 28-Apr-2013 04:35

A good time to remind people not to use the same password on several different services.

One good way to deal with lots of passwords, is to auto create them (good long passwords of 14+ letters/numbers) and use a service like Lastpassword or 1Password (my favorite) to deal with entering passwords on the different services.

That way your email and other services aren't in jeopardy if one of the services you use get hacked.

LinkedIn, PS Networks etc. are good examples that its not only small services/sites that gets hacked and bleed usernames and passwords.

Jarle on Twitter - Senson Web Marketing

Klipspringer

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Reply # 807083 29-Apr-2013 09:15

jarledb: A good time to remind people not to use the same password on several different services.

One good way to deal with lots of passwords, is to auto create them (good long passwords of 14+ letters/numbers) and use a service like Lastpassword or 1Password (my favorite) to deal with entering passwords on the different services.

That way your email and other services aren't in jeopardy if one of the services you use get hacked.

LinkedIn, PS Networks etc. are good examples that its not only small services/sites that gets hacked and bleed usernames and passwords.

Thanks for the tip. Going to try this out.

gzt

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Reply # 807095 29-Apr-2013 09:28

Date of birth is another issue to consider.

How many services have a genuine need for your exact date of birth?

Not LivingSocial that's for sure.

freitasm

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Reply # 807096 29-Apr-2013 09:30

Klipspringer:
jarledb: One good way to deal with lots of passwords, is to auto create them (good long passwords of 14+ letters/numbers) and use a service like Lastpassword or 1Password (my favorite) to deal with entering passwords on the different services.

Thanks for the tip. Going to try this out.

LastPass (which I think jarledb is talking as "lastpassword") uses Google Authenticator for two factor security if you want to go even further. There are Google Authenticator apps in all mobile platforms.

I also use Google Authenticator on Google Account, Microsoft Windows account, Dropbox, Lastpass. I use SMS authentication on Facebook and a couple of other services.

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Oriphix

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Reply # 807097 29-Apr-2013 09:34

I personally use Keepass. Its free and you can get a portable version for iPhone (I think you can get it for android as well) so take your passwords with you as well.

Behodar

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Reply # 807110 29-Apr-2013 09:53

gzt: Date of birth is another issue to consider.

How many services have a genuine need for your exact date of birth?

Not LivingSocial that's for sure.

Agreed. I'm not familiar with LivingSocial but I don't like sites that "require" data that they don't actually need. For example, I haven't registered with Pizza Hut because they won't let me create an account without providing my physical address (I only ever do pickups). It's not that I don't trust Pizza Hut, but rather that I don't trust potential hackers!