Comcast insecurity

[skiziks]

While on vacation in AZ in March it was necessary for me to use the address book in SmartZone in my account on Comcast's email site. For some reason my email app, Entourage, would not send email, only receive them. I entered a number of my contacts, for the very first time, into the address book in my account in SmartZone. Now someone has hacked into that address book and is emailing everyone in it including me a link to a pharmacy promoting Viagra. Opening the Sent folder in SmartZone will show the list of the emails sent using that address book. Only the people in that address book have received the emails with my name as the sender. Contacts with Comcast chat-line resulted in two suggestions, both of which I have rejected, change my password and change my email address. It's my belief that their security is lax, allowing my address book to be hacked. Why is it my responsibility to make the sacrifices after their lack of security permitted access to my information? I did delete all the contacts in that address book, but the emails continued. During a recheck I found that the complete list of contacts was still in the Trash. Deleted them and I'm holding my breath hoping that the emails cease.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

While on vacation in AZ in March it was necessary for me to use the address book in SmartZone in my account on Comcast's email site. For some reason my email app, Entourage, would not send email, only receive them. I entered a number of my contacts, for the very first time, into the address book in my account in SmartZone. Now someone has hacked into that address book and is emailing everyone in it including me a link to a pharmacy promoting Viagra. Opening the Sent folder in SmartZone will show the list of the emails sent using that address book. Only the people in that address book have received the emails with my name as the sender. Contacts with Comcast chat-line resulted in two suggestions, both of which I have rejected, change my password and change my email address. It's my belief that their security is lax, allowing my address book to be hacked. Why is it my responsibility to make the sacrifices after their lack of security permitted access to my information? I did delete all the contacts in that address book, but the emails continued. During a recheck I found that the complete list of contacts was still in the Trash. Deleted them and I'm holding my breath hoping that the emails cease.

I don't want to suggest you should have used your own computer's address book instead — and I'll assume you're using a Mac. I do not rely on my ISP for anything, other than broadband access. Not even email, but I agree they should be responsible for security-related consequences. At the same time, I bet their Terms of Service will absolve them from blame for anything.