I recently got hacked using Live Messenger with Hotmail. The problem is I couldn't prevent the hack, no matter what people think it's as easy as pie to retrieve a password and login on someone else's account. So now I'm curious, what is the most secure network I would be able to log into Live Messenger with? Or even Pidgin if you have heard of it.
What's the most secure email service to use in conjunction with Windows Live Messenger?internet explorer update
It sounds like you mean you were comprimised by password stealing malware rather than Microsoft Hotmail was "hacked".
This can happen a couple ways. Look up "keylogger" which is malware that transmits your every keystroke (everything you type) back to the cyber criminal(s) on the other end. Here would be they captured your password.
There was a recent Java exploit in Firefox browser that was stealing passwords. Update to latest version of Firefox. Also update to the latest version of Java at click %26gt; Start %26gt; Control Panel %26gt; Java Console ...... open it and click Update. Also set that to Automatic Updates.
There are viruses that steal passwords and other malwares. Generally in these cases it is strongly recommended to secure your computer immediately without out further sessions until then by full scans with quality shareware security software (paid antivirus, and antispyware). If you do not have paid subscription security software already in place - then before attempting any personal or finacial transactions to do so you should grab up the free home versions and do full system scans. Both antivirus and antispyware programs are absolutely imperitive in breaches of personal information. With full scans completed with malware removed - then and only then should you move to change all your current passwords to strong passwords at least 6 or more characters mixed with numbers and alphabetic characters. Then you should immediately purchase quality antivirus and antispyware and a firewall. Without these general methods you are wide open to all this ocurring again and again.
Free security software does not have real time protection activated with the only exception of the free Microsoft Windows Defender antispyware with real time protection and active shields. Real time protection protects 24/7 from these type malwares from installing. If they were downloaded as bundled in some bad software - if activated they will be detected immediately by the paid subscription software or be found in a normal scan before being activated and quarantined or deleted.
So, do a full scan with antivirus and antispyware. Quarantine or delete what is determined as a virus or keylogger or other malware. Change all your passwords and install paid subscription security software. End of story. Mzake sure you Update to latest Defintions in the security software before scanning. It must have the latest up to date signature defintions to identify all threats.
One other possibility is that you were duped into a "phisher site" which is a fake website that looks almost exactly like the real one which transmits your password and any other information from the session immediately to the cyber criminlas on the other end. There was a Yahoo site like that I believe not too long ago for one. This was part of the reasons for all the improvements to Internet Explorer Version 7 which includes anti-phisher technology. Earthlink had one of the original Anti Scam toolbars and works for Firefox browsers - warns of fake websites. It is strongly recommended to be operating at Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Internet Explorer 7 for your Windows Operating System (OS). This is the most secure and optimum performance versions aside from newer Vista OS.
See Free Online Virus and Spyware Scans and also the free home versions of antivirus and antispyware at these sites listed and do the full scans until you are told you are not infected and then go about securing your computer with paid software. If you can't do that online then there is another option of grabbing the Webroot suite package of antivirus, antispyware and firewall at a Computer store likie BestBuy or Staples for instance. Webroot Spysweeper has consistently been rated in the world's top three for years and has recently put together the Suite which includes special pc Sophos antivirus which is a top award winning enterprise level antivirus winning the top VB100 Award for antivirus and also includes a firewall. If you can disable the firewall then get the free Comodo Firewall which is top rated in penetration tests and is unbelievably completely free and see their website for why - no strings. The Webroot package is on the inexpensive side I believe currently at $40 compared to $70 for others.
So my answer is that you asked the wrong question in that there is no "secure network" that can prevent this. They are the server side and you are the client side. It is a client side problem - virus infection or spyware most likely is the answer. However, recently or perhaps going back two years now or more even in some cases - web destinations have added more Log In security encryption and Hotmail was one of the very first. When you log onto a Secure Site you see the little security icon on the browser (lock) showing that you are logging in on a Secure Site. This is most common at any finacial website. You will now see that at many web based email destinations like Yahoo Email. You fill in your User Name and Password and when you click 'Enter' you will see the little security icon (lock) on the browser briefly as you enter. This shows that your password was encrypted. I am quite certain Hotmail has this and was one of the first who also was one of the first to give options to "Block Pictures and Graphics" from displaying unless clicked OK if you knew and trusted the source - as jpeg (pictures) where comprimised by virus insertions and was a major overhaul also in Outlook Express by Microsoft for the same. Now all ISPs are doing it because of viruses embedded in pictures. So taking all that into consideration, I would definately assume this was a client side breach is my advice I give to you. Do the full scans first, remove the malwares, and get protected with paid quality security software.
Go HERE:
Freeware home versions antivirus, antispyware shortlist:
http://www.bluecollarpc.net/pcsafety.htm...
Free Online scans
AntiVirus,
http://www.bluecollarpc.net/virus-scans....
AntiSpyware:
http://www.bluecollarpc.net/pcsafety.htm...
Keyloggers defined
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/keylogge...
