Prevent Your Messenger Account From Being Hacked

On Sept. 5, 2009, someone hacked on my cousin's YM account and the crook used it for his/her evil plan, to get free prepaid cellphone loads. After 3 days, my cousin informed me that one of her friends listed in her hacked YM account received the same message. Then the crook told her friend to click on a link to view my cousin's picture to prove to her that it was her. Her friend clicked on the link only to find out that her YM account was now being hacked.

Her friend later on learned that her relatives in the US and in the Philippines as well, received YM messages asking for financial help. What's also very bothering about the news is that she uses that same YM account in some of her banking transactions. My cousin advised her to contact her friends, relatives listed in that account to warn them not to fall for the trap. And also, to make a quick move to change her bank info containing the hacked account.

As for my cousin, she already received a lot of phone calls asking if she's in financial trouble. This really is very alarming considering it only took a matter of days to spread. And with only one person to fall for a trap, it could spread that fast.

This led me to thinking, it didn't happened to me yet. I wasn't hacked yet. But how can I prevent my account from being hacked? This are what I stumbled upon in the net :

1. Avoid P2P file Sharing Through Yahoo Messenger

Be it known or unknown, prefer not to receive any file from your friend unless you know what he is sharing and why. Avoid downloading .exe or .zip files from them as they are more likely to attack your computer or install trozans without you being aware of it. Never trust a stranger when he asks you to click on any site you haven't heard of.

2. Avoid Clicking on Spammy Links

If you were chatting with someone else and suddenly a PM box flashes on the screen with a lucrative offer/interesting site which has a spammy look, don't click on it. These websites have a lot of spyware who get silently installed if you go and surf them. Never download a toolbar unless its as authenticated as Yahoo's or Google's.

3. Use Ignore Option Effectively

Yahoo has an ignore option that lets you ban a person or mark as spam so that he can't disturb you once again. Use that option effective. Go to Yahoo Messenger main box -> Preferences -> Ignore List. If you want to avoid talking to strangers (which I always recommend)i.e. wanna talk to your buddies only, Check Ignore anyone.. option. That helps you be safe and block on the unwanted and potential hackers from reaching you. See the screen-shot below.

4. Use other Chat Clients

Yahoo Messenger has too many loopholes. It doesn't have a strong security to block contents either. So, if you want to get rid of spams and porn contents all under one go, then you should go for some popular and secure yahoo chat clients like Yazak. You can also go for Yah-Elite and Yam They may not have the same sophisticated GUI or entertainment features but they will increase the security of the chat sessions by many folds.

Here is a link that can help you with some more chat clients. I don't recommend any except these.

5. Always Use Newer Versions of Yahoo Messenger

Remember, the more you stay with the older versions and feel lazy to get upgraded, the more you are helping the hackers. Yahoo or any software, brings out these updates not only to extend features but also due to security reasons. A newer version of yahoo messenger 9 is hardly bootable by DoS attack whereas Yahoo Messenger 7 can be booted out or hacked by a script kiddie.

6. Don't download Yahoo Plug-ins from Unauthorized source

Do not ever download a plug-in of Yahoo messenger from any other site however lucrative it be. Plug-ins like these exploit the vulnerability once installed and send your account details to a third party revealing and cracking down your id. So, better be safe than sorry. No?

7. Use Proxy if you have a Better Firewall

Yahoo also gives you option to change your proxy. Go to Preferences and hunt down Proxy servers. You will see that you can set your own proxy server so that Yahoo gets redirected through yours giving you a better chance to protect yourself and secure by your network. But if only you have that faith on your network security. You can change it by going to Yahoo Messenger main box -> Preferences -> Connection

8. Use Word Filter

You can also use your word Filter in Yahoo messenger. It just discards all the obscene or threatening words by intelligent filtering system if you choose StrongYahoo Messenger main box -> Preferences -> Chat. option. But be aware, there may be some times when your own friend can get banned while cursing your jokingly. Word filter is another good option to be within your network and not let some specifically targeted spammers to arrive. It increases security too. You can change it by going to

9. Be sure to Delete Your Profile after Chatting from a Public computer

Most of the users don't know about it. Whenever you sign in to yahoo messenger, yahoo makes a profile of yours in the directory Yahoo -> Messenger -> Profiles by the name of your yahoo id. There is an option by default at Yahoo messenger that messages will be saved as long as you are signed in to your account for that session. A good hacker can have access to that file and decrypt it to learn your private conversations.

What you must do if you are sharing a public computer to chat from, is, you can change it by going to Yahoo Messenger main box -> Preferences -> Archive.No, do not save any of my messages and you are done. Oh don't forget to delete your profile from Profiles inside Yahoo folder after you sign out. Change it to

10. Apply Your Common sense and Use a good Antivirus and anti spyware software

Applying your common sense is the least you can do to prevent your account from being hacked. A good anti-virus and anti-spyware always warns you about dangers that you may have overlooked. So its better to have them as well. If you implement the above 9 tips, you won't need to worry much I gues until you personally hand over your information to the person willing to crack your computer down.

Yahoo messenger and other messaging tool are fun and very useful to stay connected with our loved ones and also gain new friends. But there are some inconsiderate persons who will not hesitate to ruin your reputation. It wouldn't hurt to follow the simple tips above rather than fixing the problem caused by the hackers.

source : blog.taragana.com

Messenger Hacking

September 5, 2009 / around 10:00 pm - I was busy doing a website in my computer at home. I was online in YM but my status was invisible to everyone. Suddenly, I received a message in YM from my cousin who's in UK, so I thought it was. The YM id was my cousin's but I know she uses a new id. Her opening line was, "favor naman, importante lang" (favor please, this is important). So I asked what is it. She asked me if I could buy her cellphone prepaid cards. According to her, she can't reach her supplier here in the Philippines. She would pay me the next day.

Hhhmmm...this doesn't sound like my cousin. First of all, everytime she would start a chat with me, her opening line is, "Hi, cuz". Plus, she's doing well in UK so she doesn't need to have a sideline selling prepaid cards which is just small time. And I can't figure out, why she would sell prepaid cards applicable only in the Philippines in UK?

I got suspected and a bit nervous that time. I told her that I'm a bit hesitant with the idea. I asked her if she really is my cousin. Her reply was, "Yes, it is me. What's wrong with you? Do you not trust me? I will not fool you." Again, this doesn't sound like my cousin. I asked her for proof that she really is my cousin. Then she replied, "If you don't trust me and can't help me, that's ok". I even apologized but I still insist for proof. I asked her if I can view her in webcam. She said her soundcard is not working. Huh?? I told her, your cam will still work even if you don't have soundcard. No reply. I asked again for proof. I asked for the name of her parents, my parents and my siblings' name. She didn't respond.

I decided to open my facebook account. I sent a message to my cousin in UK and I told her about the incident. It's a good thing that she immediately saw my message to her. She confirmed that it's indeed not her. I went back to YM, I told the impostor that I already talked to the real owner of the id. Then she/he suddenly signed off from YM.

I learned that one of my cousins also here in the Philippines, almost got victimized. I advised my cousin, the owner of the ym id, to inform all her friends listed in that account about the incident and not to fall for the trap.

A similar incident happened to one of my officemates. Someone used her msn account and started cursing and saying rude messages to one of our officemates. If you ever experience the same, make sure to verify first if she/he is indeed that owner of the id.

Looking Back

August 29, 2009 - My sister went home from Singapore, unexpectedly. She just sent a message to my other sister that she's already in Changgi airport, on her way to the Philippines. We were all surprised with the wonderful news as my sister has been in Singapore for two (2) years now. It was also her son's 13th birthday. It was really nice seeing her again.

There are 6 of us in the family, two of my siblings already in Singapore. We no longer all live in one roof as the three of us already have a family of our own. We have different priorities and we live far from each other. So it is very exciting for us whenever we have a get-together like this. But, less my eldest brother.

I visited our old house because my sister stayed there for a while . I saw our old pics and I can't help but reminisce every piece. The fun, the excitement, the laugh trips, the bloopers, the looks (I've got bugs bunny teeth then). Life was much simpler then. Our financial status back then was not that great as compared now. If I will remember correctly, we are the poorest family in my mother's clan. But we manage to keep our family tight and have a happy relationship. We enjoy simple things, even just sharing a half gallon of ice cream. We share interests and we support each other.

I remember the delicious home-cooked meal of my mother. While she's cooking she would sing old songs from her time. Sometimes I would accompany that with a guitar. Early in the morning, she would go to the market. She did not forget to buy fresh cow's milk that would go along with our breakfast perfectly.

But of course, it's not always sunny and rosy. A lot of family struggles came to us but it seems that it made us even stronger. There are arguments, yes. We had some misunderstandings, fights. But doors for forgiveness and understanding is always open.

Now, we are all matured persons and the bonding is much tighter. All the negative issues that we had before were all gone. We had a dinner and it was very fun. We are all like kids again, laughing so hard again, just like before. Only now, it's more fun together with our kids.