MSN - please help

matty_c608

No you do not get notified by email of a password change.

Since MSN relies on Hotmail, and the passwords are interlinked, it comes under the Passport Network.

Contact them here.

http://support.msn.com/eform.aspx?productKey=passport&page=support_home_options_form_byemail&ct=eformts

They ought to get back to you ASAP - it's a security breach. They may investiage it for you too, depends on how serious it was.

On that page, you may choose a 'Response Address' where all replies will go! Put your email address in there!!

Hope all goes well!! People who steal passwords are idiots!

She may want to delete her account when she's done getting the password, ask MSN Services to do this for you.

If she uses MSN, she may want her contact list saved too, so ask them to do that for you. It is very quick.

Good Luck

Matt.

BrokeBrunette

thanks to you for your replies. DD (I am going to give her a severe lecture once I've sorted this out) can't remember the answer she gave to the secret question. This is just getting worse!!! :eek:

Quincy_3

BrokeBrunette wrote:

thanks to you for your replies. DD (I am going to give her a severe lecture once I've sorted this out) can't remember the answer she gave to the secret question. This is just getting worse!!! :eek:

Im going to send you a Private Message :beer:

BrokeBrunette

Matt

I cross-posted with you, so missed your comments till now. I have e-mailed hotmail and explained the situation. I can't see them acting very quickly though. I just wish DD could remember her answer, it would save a lot of hassle!!!

matty_c608

No chance is it her fault!!

MSN have stepped up their security anyway now! There are password strength indicators. You may also set the password to 'expire' every 72 days, so it must be changed within that period to something else.

Mix your password with CAPS and NUM13ER5 AND little letters!! And make it a code, rather than a word. Dictionary attacks may cause a password to be stolen.

And ensure your security question is a custom one. Use something that only she will now. I think the 'Mothers Maiden Name' is a load of rubbish!! So many people can find that out in so many ways. Same goes for 'First Pet Names'!!

You may close your MSN account by Logging in (WHen you can!!):

1. Click Help on any Hotmail page.
2. Type Close Account in the keyword search section of the Help screen.
3. Click the Close Your Hotmail Account tip within the Help screen.
4. Click the Close Account link that is highlighted in blue.
5. Read the instructions. When you are satisfied that you understand the terms associated with an account closure, click Close Account.

matty_c608

For now in the mean time she could open another account, to explain to her friends what has happened! The message can then be spread that it is not her fault, and that someone has stolen her account.

You will probably be asked a bunch of security questions. Eg. About how many people are on the contact list, a few of the emails on that contact list, your postcode (one had to be supplied at signup), age/DOB etc.

Good Luck

EDIT:

Try some of these mailing addresses too perhaps:

abuse@hotmail.com
hotmailprivacy@hotmail.com

leesmithg

Seems sorted now.

However, it could have been a case of messenger being a pain as I know this week messenger has been down for periods of time.

BrokeBrunette

A big, big thankyou to all of you for your help. DD has remembered the secret question answer and we have just changed the password.

I really appreciate all the help you've given me. Thankyou so much.

I've given her a severe lecture about password safety as well

BrokeBrunette

forgot to add that we are going to delete the accounts anyway and set her up a new one. I think that's for the best!!

matty_c608

Good plan!!

Teach her the password security!

Close down the account as I mentioned above. And don't login to it for 120 Days (4 Months) and it will be totally gone

Save your contact list first though in MSN, so you can add all the contacts back to MSN.

Oh, and might I sugges the upgraded product (which I've helped to debug, and added suggestions too )

http://g.msn.com/1csbeta/Mess80_EN

Matt