HACKER EXPOSED

I just wanted to say that my personal email account was rudely RIPPED from me this week.

One minute I was happily signed into g-talk and the next, BAM!!! It logged me out and, no matter what I did, it was impossible to get back in, it kept telling me my password was wrong.... At first it was just weird, then, when I started to see username requests to my ebay account I panicked a bit.

I went on the googlemail helper which is like a wee little maze and you go this way and that, answering all their questions about whether you can get in your email (well of course I bloody can't, that's why I ticked "my account has been compromised"!!!!!!!). Eventually, I managed to fill in the form correctly and then I got an email to my other email address and all it said was this:

Thank you for your report. We've completed our investigation. Because our investigation was inconclusive, we are unable to return your account at this time. We've disabled access to this account for your security. Please note that disabling protects your account from further abuse. If you used orkut with this account, we've deleted the orkut profile. At Google we take the privacy and security of our users very seriously. For this reason, we're unable to reveal any further information about this account.

AAARGH!! So I went back and dutifully filled the form in again... and again... and again (well, I figured if I kept doing it they'd realise I meant business!). Eventually, after about 3 of those emails and much to my relief, I got this reply:

Thank you for your report. We've completed our investigation and we're re-enabling your access to this account. We've changed the alternate email address...

So, whooping and cheering, I merrily went and signed in to my account. When I got there I discovered several things: my alternative email was now: thebuyerlink@aim.com. My country was the USA and my zip code was 47452. But more to the point, they had changed my username to 'oliva' so they hadn't even spelt my name right!!!! Bloody cheek. Anyway, I was just relieved to have my email back, so I kept note of the details and breathed a sigh of relief.

However, it was not over yet. Over the next few days I didn't receive any emails. It was really weird and I couldn't understand it because I even sent myself test ones. I started to get worried again as I had told everyone that they could now email me again, so I didn't know if anyone had sent me any personal details. Finally, I found out that all my mail to that address was being forwarded to one jamesobbs01@gmail.com (I don't know anyone called James Obbs, do you?!)!

I have now restored all normality, but it was a bit scary there for a while. It feels a bit like you've not just been robbed, but also the robbers have locked you out of your house and are sending out for pizzas while you stand, helpless, on the doorstep. Also, when you get back in, you can't help the feeling you are being watched. So, my friends, what's my advice having just been "hacked"? Well...

1. Make sure your password is secure and (I don't know if this is the general advice, but...) change it every now and then.

2. Make sure your virus scan software is up to date and your Windows updates are on (thanks to my brother for that advice!)

3. Try not to log in on any dodgy computers where you are not sure of the security

4. If you do get locked out of your account, make sure you report it immediately and go and change all your other passwords on every site you can think of

5. Oh... and try not to log in to any dodgy sites, eh?! NOT THAT I DID!!! No, really, I didn't....

That's it folks, stay safe and in the words of Jerry Springer; "Take care of yourselves.... and each other"!