Gmail filters allow(ed) email hijacking

Filed under: Internet, Security, Web services, Google, web 2.0

Gmail filters allow(ed) email hijacking

by Romeo Wahed Dec 27th 2007

We made a note of the Gmail hijacking earlier this year, but now there is some proof that we weren't kidding. Graphic designer and blogger David Airey had his Gmail account hijacked by a denizen of the Internet netherworld, who then proceeded to forward all e-mails regarding the domain name of David's website to himself. The evildoer is holding the domain ransom and probably doing a whole slew of other things he shouldn't be.

Google seems to have addressed the issue, but that won't delete filters that were there before the fix. If you use Gmail and have any sort of sensitive information that you don't want to get into the wrong hands, check your filters for any that may be forwarding your mail to an unknown address.

But don't relax just yet. With Web 2.0 being the new favorite playground for hackers, the tech savvy user will probably have to think twice before using online applications. Be it social networks, document storage, or other Web 2.0 services, security risks are real and may force us to reconsider the kind of transactions and information we use those services for.

Tags: gmail, gmail-hack, google, security, web2.0

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kingkool68 said 11:02AM on 12-27-2007

Please, please, please GOOGLE implement OpenID so I can use Verisign's secure two-factor authentication! This would be the perfect solution to keep my gmail account extra safe.

For more about VeriSign's Security Card check out my blog entry -> http://www.russellheimlich.com/blog/verisigns-security-card-keeps-accounts-safe/

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