October 2, 2023

Freecycle users told to change passwords after data breach

Freecycle, a web-based neighborhood that encourages sharing undesirable gadgets with eachother than chucking them within the bin or taking them to landfill, has informed customers to alter their passwords after it suffered an information breach.

An announcement on the Freecycle web site was the primary I knew concerning the safety breach, as – on the time of writing – regardless of being a member of the positioning I nonetheless haven’t acquired some other notification from the neighborhood.

Freecycle announcement

On August thirtieth we grew to become conscious of an information breach on Freecycle.org. Because of this, we’re advising all members to alter their passwords as quickly as potential. We apologize for the inconvenience and would ask that you just watch this area for additional pending background. Deron Beal, Government Director, The Freecycle Community

Extra info is shared on the Freecycle knowlegebase, the place customers are suggested on the way to change their passwords.

Freecycle says that the info breach “contains usernames, Consumer IDs, e-mail addresses and hashed passwords.” No point out is made concerning the hashing algorithm used or whether or not the passwords have been additionally salted – which might be helpful info to know when assessing how seemingly it’s that passwords can be cracked.

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Regardless, it’s actually a good suggestion to alter your Freecycle password – but additionally to make sure that you’re not utilizing the identical password anyplace else on the web.

Though you will not be overly frightened about somebody accessing your Freecycle account, you undoubtedly don’t wish to make it simple for a malicious hacker to interrupt into your different on-line accounts.

You must make it a behavior to by no means use the identical password on totally different websites.

When you discover passwords a burden – merely use password administration software program like 1Password or Bitwarden to make them each safer and simpler to recollect.

You also needs to assume that cybercriminals now have your e-mail handle too – which can imply that Freecycle customers can count on to obtain phishing emails designed to trick them into sharing extra info.

As ever, watch out on the market.

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Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity trade, having labored for numerous safety corporations for the reason that early Nineties when he wrote the primary ever model of Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus Toolkit for Home windows. Now an unbiased analyst, he often makes media appearances and is a world public speaker on the subject of cybersecurity, hackers, and on-line privateness.
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