Amazon Alerts Users to Change Passwords after Email Leak
Shop on Amazon? You may want to check your email. The online retailer has sent out an alert to some users explaining that it might be time to change their passwords following the discovery of leaked credentials online.
The Seattle-based company said the leak, which consisted of email addresses and passwords, left some users’ accounts vulnerable to hacking and in order to stay proactive, they’ve alerted those who may be compromised by setting their passwords to default and asking users to reset it with a passcode they would remember.
Amazon also asked users to step up their security on their accounts by signing up for the two-step verification that would require a user to enter in a unique code when signing in.
The full email is below sent under the subject line, ‘Your Amazon Password has been Changed.’
Hello,
At Amazon we take your security and privacy very seriously. As part of our routine monitoring, we discovered a list of email addresses and passwords posted online. While the list was not Amazon-related, we know that many customers reuse their passwords on multiple websites. Since we believe your email addresses and passwords were on the list, we have assigned a temporary password to your Amazon.com account out of an abundance of caution.
You will need to reset your password when you return to the Amazon.com site. To reset your password, click “Your Account” at the top of any page on Amazon.com. On the Sign In page, click the “Forgot your password?” link to reach the Amazon.com Password Assistance page. After you enter your email or mobile phone number, you will receive an email containing a personalized link. Click the link from the email and follow the directions provided.
Your new password will be effective immediately. We recommend that you choose a password that you have never used with any website.
You can also enable Amazon’s Two-Step Verification, a feature that adds an extra layer of security to your account. In addition to entering your password, Two-Step Verification requires you to enter a unique security code during sign in. To learn more about Two-Step Verification, go to Amazon.com Help, go to Managing Your Account, and click More in Managing Your Account, and then click More under Account Settings.