References

What are the articles?

guy got hacked
amazon - apple - gmail - twitter
could have been prevented with 2fa on google
ultimate goal twitter
should have used backups for devices
was his fault
but also security flaws in apple and amazon
- final four digits shared by amazon are required by apple
- disconnect exposes flaws in tech industry
- foreshadows issues in era of cloud and connected devices
- password based systems are no longer suffice

5pm

phone powered down
This was irritating, but I wasn’t concerned
assumed it was a software glitch
phone automatically backs up
I was irritated, but not alarmed.
the screen went gray, and asked for a four-digit PIN
I knew something was very, very wrong.
unplugged my router and cable modem, turned off the Mac Mini
called AppleCare
a call had been placed just a little more than a half an hour before my own.
Apple rep didn't bother to tell me about the first call concerning my account
only shared this information after I asked about it
someone called AppleCare claiming to be me.
- reported that he couldn't get into his Me.com e-mail
- issued a temporary password
- despite the caller’s inability to answer security questions I had set up
- it did this after the hacker supplied only two pieces of information that anyone with an internet connection and a phone can discover.
a password reset confirmation arrived in my inbox
- I don’t really use my me.com e-mail, and rarely check i
- hackers immediately sent it to the trash.
- reset my AppleID password
Gmail password recovery e-mail
- Google account password had changed
reset my Twitter password.
used iCloud’s “Find My” tool to remotely wipe my iPhone, iPad, Macbook
deleted my Google account
the attackers posted a message to my account on Twitter taking credit for the hack.
not only had the ability to control my account, but were able to prevent me from regaining access
those deletions were just collateral damage