(email from Twitter) Twitter account password hacked -- Suspicions

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2853368
by leke • 15 years ago
2 1 15 years ago

So, I found my twitter account password has been hacked. The password wasn't very strong because I don't really care much for twitter. It's the same password I've been using for all my accounts I don't have an investment in -- regardless, the same combination of letters and numbers on all these accounts has served me for about 8 years. I don't think the account was 'brute forced' as they say, I think I know how they got it though and why they want it so badly.

How: The last month or so, I've been using these 'Login to comment' with your xxx (google/FB/Twitter etc...) account on various sites that run an article and have a comments section at the bottom. I must admit, I'm starting to pay less attention to exactly what these sites are when I select to comment with my twitter account. I know it's just easy and after you do it once, other times just seem to be the click of a button. As the twitter email I got confirmed, it seems to be a 3rd party app which had access to my info. The only apps I have allowed, were the ones needed to accept comment registration. Go figure.

Why: I've heard about these companies selling twitter followers to politicians or to companies needing on line promotion. I've heard of investigations where up to 92% of a boastful politician's followers have been bought. Fcuk everything about that.

Well I'm off to change my password thanks to a handy detection from twitter. I've already confirmed the old one is no good by logging in to twitter independently. Maybe I can pin down who was responsible by seeing if I'm following anyone I wouldn't normally.

I hope this post was somewhat interesting. Thanks for listening.

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