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Microsoft shuts Passport for hours over security
Microsoft closed part of its Passport authentication service for more than 48 hours to deal with a security problem that could disclose users` credit card information, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Monday.
Microsoft closed part of its Passport authentication service for more than 48 hours to deal with a security problem that could disclose users' credit card information, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Monday.
Microsoft shuts Passport for hours over security
EW YORK: Microsoft closed part of its Passport authentication service for more than 48 hours to deal with a security problem that could disclose users' credit card information, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Monday.
The paper said that a Seattle-area programmer found a flaw in the system and told Microsoft last week. He had discovered a way to send a booby-trapped message to Hotmail users that can be used to steal personal information from their Passport wallet accounts, the report said. The paper quoted Adam Sohn, a Microsoft product manager associated with Passport, saying that the company quickly found a way to fix the immediate problem but kept the service offline for about two days, from Thursday to Saturday, as it looked into other security issues.
"There is zero evidence that anyone took advantage of this flaw," the paper quoted Sohn as saying. The Journal said that the problem comes as the software giant prepares to host a high-profile security conference, at which Microsoft is expected to ask companies and computer experts to agree on limiting the disclosure of information about security issues.
Microsoft has come under fire for a whole host of security and privacy issues, and consumer groups have cast doubt on whether the company can guarantee the security of customers' personal information in their privacy complaints about the company. Bureau Report
Microsoft shuts Passport for hours over security
EW YORK: Microsoft closed part of its Passport authentication service for more than 48 hours to deal with a security problem that could disclose users' credit card information, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Monday.
The paper said that a Seattle-area programmer found a flaw in the system and told Microsoft last week. He had discovered a way to send a booby-trapped message to Hotmail users that can be used to steal personal information from their Passport wallet accounts, the report said. The paper quoted Adam Sohn, a Microsoft product manager associated with Passport, saying that the company quickly found a way to fix the immediate problem but kept the service offline for about two days, from Thursday to Saturday, as it looked into other security issues.
"There is zero evidence that anyone took advantage of this flaw," the paper quoted Sohn as saying. The Journal said that the problem comes as the software giant prepares to host a high-profile security conference, at which Microsoft is expected to ask companies and computer experts to agree on limiting the disclosure of information about security issues.
Microsoft has come under fire for a whole host of security and privacy issues, and consumer groups have cast doubt on whether the company can guarantee the security of customers' personal information in their privacy complaints about the company. Bureau Report