Here's how to survive the massive Yahoo hack
On Thursday, Yahoo announced that hackers had compromised at least 500 million user accounts in 2014, stealing some number of names, passwords, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and security question answers. That's bad news if you have a Yahoo account, and just because the hack is two years old doesn't mean you should just throw up your hands and keep on keeping on. The first thing to do is immediately change your Yahoo password — pick a good one, and if you're having trouble, Edward Snowden has some pretty good advice.
In fact, "change all your passwords, especially if you use the same passwords for different sites," internet security analyst Hemu Nigam tells CNN. "When you look at your keychain you have a different key for your house, for your locker, for your bank. Treat your online world like you treat your physical world — in other words, a different password for everything that matters in your online world." Gizmodo's William Turton also suggests that whenever possible, turn on two-factor authentication, and be especially wary of strange emails.
Use your common sense, Turton says. "Don't click on links and definitely don't download any files unless you're sure you know who sent them. If the email sounds very dramatic or too good to be true, it probably is." If an email from an unknown sender asks for personal information, beware. You can read more advice (Turton suggests getting a Gmail account, though Gmail isn't immune to hacks) at Gizmodo, or learn more about the hack — including why Nigam is suspicious of Yahoo's claim the hack was "state sponsored" — in the video below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published