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Skype fixes security flaw that let hackers hijack users' accounts

Skype fixes security flaw that let hackers hijack users' accounts

By Indo-Asian News Service | Updated: 15 November 2012 14:05 IST

Skype has resolved a security bug that made it possible for hackers to steal accounts, the popular Internet phone service said.

"We... have made updates to the password reset process today so that it is now working properly," Skype said in its blog post Wednesday. "We are reaching out to a small number of users who may have been impacted to assist as necessary."

Skype's vulnerability allowed a hacker to use the same email address as that of the intended victim to create an account in the system. The hacker could then reset the password for all accounts associated with that email, thus locking out the account owner from Skype, according to tech media website CNET.

Skype earlier Wednesday suspended its password reset feature to prevent hackers from taking advantage of the flaw.

According to messages on Community.Skype.com, information about Skype's vulnerability to hacking had already been published in July this year, but nothing had been done to address this weakness.

Skype was established in 2003, and currently has over 500 million registered users. Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion.

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