Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Cloud
    • Cybersecurity
    • IT Management

    Twitter Hacker Abused Yahoo to Get Administrative Access

    Written by

    Brian Prince
    Published April 30, 2009
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      A French hacker reportedly used social engineering to get Twitter administrative access and posted screenshots of data belonging to several high-profile celebrities.

      The hacker, operating under the handle of Hacker Croll, posted 13 screenshots of Twitter’s admin panel. The screenshots include internal data for accounts belonging to a number of high-profile figures, including Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears and President Barack Obama.

      Officials at Twitter have not yet responded to requests for comment. Still, indications are that the screenshots are legitimate and that the attacker may have hacked into an administrator’s account by first breaking into that person’s Yahoo account and stealing his or her Twitter password.

      In a post in an online forum, the confessed hacker said he used social engineering only-“no exploit, no XSS vulnerability, no backdoor, no sql injection.” The hacker wrote:

      “One of the admins has a yahoo account, i’ve reset the password by answering to the secret question. Then, in the mailbox, i have found her twitter password.“

      The reported hack follows a wave of worm attacks against Twitter earlier in April. In that case, the worm was more of an annoyance for users and is not thought to have caused any actual harm beyond sending spam.

      Enterprises are increasingly worried about the impact social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can have on their security. According to an online poll conducted by Sophos, 63 percent of the 709 respondents worry employees put corporate data at risk by sharing too much personal information via their social networking profiles. The poll also found a quarter of the respondents’ businesses have been the victim of spam, phishing or malware attacks via sites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.

      Facebook was just hit with a phishing scam earlier the week of April 27 that attempted to trick users into giving up their Facebook credentials. The scam begins when users receive a message with the subject “Look at this!” that contains a malicious link. If users click the link, they are redirected to a spoofed log-in page.

      Sophos advises organizations to make sure all employees are aware of the impact that their actions could have on the corporate network and consider filtering access to certain social networking sites at specific times. In addition, businesses should review their settings regularly to ensure that users are only sharing work-related information with trusted parties.

      “By adopting a more holistic approach-including investment in greater security and control solutions, as well as offering comprehensive user education-organizations will be better equipped to deal with social networking risks,” Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, wrote on a blog.

      Brian Prince
      Brian Prince

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.