BS: Data Breach- danger?

Subject: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Jul 24 - 01:56 PM

In acknowledgment of the many-heads, much knowledge principle I'm posing a question.

This morning there is news of the discovery of a huge (billions!) gather of passwords and usernames from all over the world.

I am informed that my password to Mudcat is among those captured.

My question: My Mudcat password is the only place where I use that particular password, so why should I care?

What possible danger could there be?

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jul 24 - 04:02 PM

If people want me to change their password, send me the password you want to change to.

But it probably won't make much difference, because Mudcat is not a high-security operation. We're a text-based discussion forum, so we're not intended to be secure. Mudcat passwords are like bathroom door locks, not like safety deposit boxes.

But that being said, I don't mind changing passwords if people want me to.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: DaveRo
Date: 12 Jul 24 - 05:45 PM

Ebbie wrote: This morning there is news of the discovery of a huge (billions!) gather of passwords and usernames from all over the world.

If that's this news then the thing to know is that it's just a list of words (or strings of characters). Each one is not associated with with a website - eg mudcat. So unless you use the password on a site that would be worth attacking then it's of no importance.

Nearly all words in the dictionary will be in it. My mudcat password was in such a list some years ago.

Have I Been Pwned?

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Jul 24 - 07:47 PM

Maybe 3 or 4 years ago I went to a talk on internet security by a retired FBI agent, and he said that usernames are not very important, and not to worry about them.

A recent book said that the longer a password is, the better. It's a relief not to bother with passwords like S7d*(nn+&mx@bltsfix or similar.

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jul 24 - 02:49 AM

That's what I'm thinking, DaveRo et al, I can't imagine what kind of threat it could pose to Mudcat.

Thanks for the bathroom lock analogy, Joe O!

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Jul 24 - 08:25 AM

So, you have no idea if this is even the real me. It could be someone who has my password!

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 13 Jul 24 - 02:51 PM

> So, you have no idea if this is even the real me.

Nope: you're the real DtG. Your tone of voice gives you away.

Subject: RE: BS: Data Breach- danger?
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jul 24 - 06:50 PM

Dave the Gnome- that reminds me of the guy who said "I don't think William Shakespeare wrote those plays and sonnets. It was somebody else with the same name."