While numerous studies have shown people are concerned about online security, there is precious little evidence to suggest those concerns have substantially altered behavior while shopping or connecting with others via social media sites. Most people, as one security expert told RetailWire this summer, move around the internet blissfully unaware of the real dangers and act as if identity theft, for example, is something that just happens to other people.
Now comes another reminder of just how scary the internet can be. According to a blog for the cybersecurity firm Trustwave, nearly two million accounts around the globe have been hacked since the initial breach on Oct. 21. The breach happened as a result of the Pony Botnet Controller, which captures usernames and passwords as individuals log in to accounts. Passwords were hacked from Facebook (318,121), Yahoo (59,549), Google (54,437), Twitter (21,708) and LinkedIn (7,978).
The payroll service provider, ADP, was also among those compromised.
John Miller, a security research manager at Trustwave, told CNN that ADP was the most worrisome of the companies breached because hackers "might be able to cut checks, modify people's payments."
ADP said that it had no evidence that any of its clients had been hurt as a result of the breach. The company, along with Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, has notified users to reset passwords of compromised accounts.