Software giant fixes flaw, could face massive penalty
Published:
10 May 2003 y., Saturday
Microsoft acknowledged a security flaw Thursday in its popular Internet Passport service that left 200 million consumer accounts vulnerable to hackers and thieves — an admission that could expose the company to a hefty fine from U.S. regulators.
Microsoft said it fixed the problem early Thursday, after a Pakistani computer researcher disclosed details of it on the Internet. Product Manager Adam Sohn said the company locked out all accounts it believed had been altered using the flaw. He declined to say how many people were affected but said it was a small number.
Several security experts said they had successfully tested the procedure overnight. Sohn said the flaw had apparently existed since at least September 2002, but Microsoft investigators have found no evidence anyone tried to use the technique to seize a Passport account before last month.
Passport promises consumers a single, convenient method for identifying themselves across different Web sites and encourages purchases online of movies, music, travel and banking services.
Closely tied to Microsoft’s flagship Windows XP software, Passport also controls access for Windows users to the free Hotmail service and instant-messaging accounts.
Šaltinis:
msnbc.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Software company announced new structure_ of it_s business.
more »
Confirming rumors that surfaced over the weekend, Apple has started selling the unlocked version of the iPhone 4 in Apple Retail stores.
more »
You didn’t expect Anonymous to take the recent Spanish police action against them lying down, did you?
more »
The era of foldable touch screens is rapidly approaching, with scientists in Taiwan leading the charge to develop computer and cell phone screens that can folded away or rolled up for storage.
more »
During the exibition „Technology Open House 2011“ japanese creators of technologies presented the automatic system, which can translate words into the finger language.
more »
China has warned Google that its business could suffer if it continues to suggest that Chinese spies have been targeting the emails of United States' officials.
more »
South Korea is showing off what it says is the world's first totally eco-friendly business building, a structure that emits zero carbon and uses only renewable energy.
more »
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said that an alleged contract and e-mails that a New York man claims entitle him to a 50% stake in the social networking site are "forgeries".
more »
The growing popularity of tablets has seen many new players enter the market.
more »
Anthony Weiner, a Democratic congressman, has claimed his Twitter account was hacked after a photograph of a bulging pair of underpants was sent to a follower. Here are some of the most memorable social networking 'hacks'...
more »
Hace China have compromised personal e-mail accounts of hundreds of top US officials, military personnel and journalists, Google has said.
more »