Hack Email

[Berne]

Hi,
As a newbie to security, is there a thread that gives the A-Z on being hacked by giving someone your email address? Related content should show best methods to block such intrusion? Hotmail v Email Payware,
I use AVAST free and regular wipe Adaware, CC Cleaner , Adv Sys Care free ect?

Reply when time permits,

Berne

 

[lxskllr]

AFAIK you can't have your email hacked, other than through obvious methods; network intrusion, keylogger, phishing....

 

[Berne]

Hi,
With your reply in mind...what else would you add to this:
Turbocrypt
Free Avast
CC Cleaner
Advanced Sys Care
Windows Cleanup

What utilities free or otherwise would safeguard those intruding methods you kindly mentioned?

Berne

 

[Devilpapaya]

Avoid using simple or dictionary based passwords- this still isn't likely, most reputable email services will lock out brute-force attempts.

Don't have security questions set that can be answered with a google search.

Don't use the same password for your email that you use for other online services - While any reputable email service will hash your username/password client side (so network sniffing becomes useless) many forums, games, etc. will not; you don't want to unwittingly give someone your password to everything by logging onto an unsecure site. This is doubly true if you frequent public wi-fi spots (starbucks, etc)

Don't be an idiot - don't download things you can't verify as legit, don't visit questionable sites, don't signup for questionable online services. This will reduce your chance of getting a virus/spyware/etc by 99%

 

[Blain]

One way to know quickly when your free email account has been hacked is to add yourself (different email account), to your contact list/ address book.
That way when the intruder blindly sends mail to your contacts, you will be alerted by receiving one of the messages at that time.

Change the password by logging into your account from a Linux bootCD.
Then make sure your machine is "clean".

 

[Bill Brasky]

One way to know quickly when your free email account has been hacked is to add yourself (different email account), to your contact list/ address book.
That way when the intruder blindly sends mail to your contacts, you will be alerted by receiving one of the messages at that time.

Change the password by logging into your account from a Linux bootCD.
Then make sure your machine is "clean".

Hey that's a pretty good idea. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Gamingphreek]

A hacker cannot gain access to your E-Mail simply by knowing your E-Mail address. By monitoring traffic they could potentially do a man in the middle attack on the SSL connection (Which you should notice). Additionally, they could potentially do a brute force dictionary based attack on the password; however, whoever the E-Mail service provider is would likely notice an absurd amount of traffic and start to block.

Similarly encryption utilities, anti-spyware utilities, and anti-virus programs will not help in this matter except for preventing from your password actually being logged when you log in to your E-Mail account (For instance, preventing key loggers)