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Yahoo Offices in Dublin Niall Carson/PA

"Change your password now" - What to do if you have a Yahoo account

Experts say beefing up your security is the only way to protect yourself from a potential attack.

TECH GIANT YAHOO has confirmed that half a billion accounts have been hacked leaving hundreds of millions vulnerable to malicious online criminals.

While no financial information has been stolen by what the company is calling “state-sponsored hacking”, there are still a lot of personal details at risk.

The computer giant admitted that names, email addresses, birth dates, and scrambled passwords were stolen in the massive attack in 2014.

While other providers such as Gmail are more popular in Ireland, Yahoo still has a large number of Irish account holders who now need to take action.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, cybersecurity company Novi recommended the following:

  • Change your password now.
  • Scan your devices for any malware/viruses.
  • Beware of strange emails – now the hackers have your details, they can spam your account with official looking emails purporting to be from banks, internet providers etc. Best to check the email’s legitimacy by contacting the company.
  • Change your password for any other email/banking accounts if it was the same as your Yahoo details.
  • Use cryptic passwords when you reset them – not anything easily identifiable.
  • Set up a new email address with another provider.

Cyber security expert George O’Dowd, who is the managing director of  Novi, is urging the public to keep all their personal information out of the hands of potential criminals.

He told TheJournal.ie:

The best way to make sure your information is safe is by using what is known as two-step authentication. This means you have another layer of security. If someone has your user name and password, they will need a specific code to type in which is nearly impossible to access.

“If you have a Yahoo account, change your password now.Using different passwords on different accounts is also important. Don’t use the same password for everything and don’t use easy ones like the names of your children or the town you’re from. They would be the easiest to get.”

A spokeswoman for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) released a statement this afternoon saying they are liaising with their US counterparts.

The statement read: “The DPC was notified of the Yahoo data breach yesterday. We have raised a number of issues with Yahoo for which we are seeking further information
and clarification. We are presently awaiting their response.

“Additionally, under a memorandum of understanding with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) facilitating cooperation between the two offices, the DPC is making contact with the FTC to coordinate our respective enquires.”

Data Protection Commissioner seeking answers after massive Yahoo privacy breach >

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25 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 1OMG
    Favourite 1OMG
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 5:07 PM

    Would have been good to know about this in 2014!!!!!

    139
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute twit
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 5:10 PM

    Yup. Well pwned at this stage.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan b
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:14 PM

    Lol

    8
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan McGill
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 7:06 PM

    Seems kinda pointless changing passwords at this stage

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nollaig Kelly
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 5:54 PM

    Have the same yahoo account since the middle 90s never had a problem with it and never had to change it since then

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ironballs
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:00 PM

    If you ever forget your password sure give us a shout

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Techbuzz Ireland
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 5:39 PM

    Bit late now since the new was broke last night and happened in 2014..Yahoo .. Who uses it?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Blake
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    Sep 24th 2016, 10:05 AM

    Goodbye yahoo

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William O' Connor
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 5:45 PM

    well obviously 500million yahoo users

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 11:09 PM

    @William O’ Connor: A half of China?
    Yahoo use to have a comment line on news stories, I use to click to see other peoples profiles on it, some of them are like solo stills from porn sometimes. Can you imagine someone stealing those lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mercurial 49
    Favourite Mercurial 49
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 7:50 PM

    At last an explanation as to why I’ve been getting even more ‘tax avoidance’ spam messages on Yahoo!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 11:14 PM

    @Mercurial 49: I use to have an yahoo account for here until I clicked on a false link and then got loads of spam then for sex starved women as the message implied, which was links to other spam and the original link was for something like steam powered cleaners. I should have used my curser over the message before opening it as the address was a giveaway…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 11:25 PM

    You got honey dicked

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen McManus
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:51 PM

    Ya who?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Random_paddy
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 8:47 PM

    If you still have a yahoo account you should consider getting rid of the mullet and quitting line dancing

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter fechter
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:13 PM

    I note in the following and previous features on delinquents that the Journal etc no longer refer to these criminals as “vulnerable”.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John003
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:39 PM

    The stolen passwords were encrypted which would be hard to crack
    Names addresses and telephone numbers were not encrypted

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Onedin
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 9:26 PM

    Bolted, horse, stable door etc etc.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 7:19 PM

    Delete yahoo never to use again not that i have in years

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute just readin
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:18 PM

    He wont be in Government for 4 or more years , a referendum woudl be a better option IMO

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 11:04 PM

    Is that not 2 years too late?

    1
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    Mute ed w
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    Sep 23rd 2016, 6:22 PM

    Surely if it’s not hacked in two years …..

    1
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    Mute kristen smith
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 8:08 AM

    Well, change of password can really help the user to make the account more secure as when account keeps getting modified in this situation is more protective from any kind of misconduct. Recommended link will really help user more- https://storify.com/wkristen/important-factors-to-secure-your-yahoo-account#publicize

    1
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    Mute Kristen Smith
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 8:10 AM

    Steps to recover Yahoo Password
    • Go to the sign in of Yahoo account
    • Click I don’t remember password
    • Enter your Yahoo Email ID
    • Click on option of password recovery
    In case still coming with Yahoo Mail password problem they can take another step to recover their account https://gonetech.net/yahoo-helpdesk/change-your-yahoo-password

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éanna McClean
    Favourite Éanna McClean
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    Sep 26th 2016, 4:44 PM

    So they get bought buy Verizon, then they start airing the dirty laundry. Maybe that pinhead CEO Mayer was good for something after all

    1
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