Hackers Access 16 Million Email Accounts: Germany

[Turk]

Published: 21 Jan 2014 12:38 GMT+01:00 Updated: 21 Jan 2014 12:38 GMT+01:00

Millions of Germans have had their passwords and usernames for websites stolen, the country’s Federal Office for Online Security (BSI) revealed on Tuesday.
The BSI said 16 million accounts containing passwords and email addresses had been compromised, according to information passed to it by law enforcement agencies and research institutions.

Authorities have set up a website where internet users can check if they have been affected, but the site crashed soon after it went up on Tuesday.

If the site does match the users email address as one of the 16 million stolen, then the BSI said the users computer was likely infected with malicious software.

Half of the accounts ended in .de meaning they were German-based, Tim Griese from the Frankfurt-based office said.
http://www.thelocal.de/20140121/agency-warns-of-16-million-email-accounts-hacked-bsi-germany

Edited January 22, 2014 by Turk