"So you think AOL doesn't have any security problems?

"Well you are probably wrong. ;)

So read the "Community Update" from Steve Case on October 17. Case's smiling face accompanied the three-line message, which concluded: "You are all owned."

The same night, seven AOL areas found their content altered by attackers. ABC, Reebok, AOL Live -- even AOL's "Lifestyles and Interests" channel found that, like Steve Case, they were promoting the handiwork of two vandals: Hex and Glaze. Steve Case's community update was re-dubbed a "Hex and Glaze production." In AOL's Jewish Commun ity Update area, the title bar announced that "Glaze and Hex stopped by."

It's the latest in a string of attacks which AOL's been unable to stop.. Since this spring at least 22 areas have been affected. September 27 a similar change-of-text hit AOL's area for "Business Week. "Never mind the shit off to the left," the vandals wrote. "Business Week has been Hacked by Hex and Spin..."

But the October 11 attack hit seven areas in one night. This suggests that rather than a single careless content partner revealing their password, a careless AOL employee with high-level access must've divulged their password, granting access to areas a cross the system. It raises the question...

...if AOL can't keep them own content out of the hands of vandals, would you trust them with your credit card?

Other Recent Hacks

The Hub	(3/31/97)
GameWiz	(4/4/97)
GameWiz (Again!)	(4/25/97)
FTP sites of several AOL employees	(4/26/97 through 4/28/97)
The New York Times	(4/29/97)
AOL Glossary	(5/9/97 through 5/23/97)
Stats Store	(5/17/97 through 5/19/97)
Thrive	(6/12/97 through 6/13/97)
Kids Kicks	(6/19/97 through....)
Fantasy Realm	6/23/97 through....)
Spin magazine	(8/10/97)
Digital Cities San Diego	(8/16/97)
Business Week	(9/18/97)
MoneyWhiz	(9/27/97)
Geraldo Rivera	(10/3/97 through 10/4/97)
Jewish Community	(10/11)
ABC KidZine	(10/11)
Steve Case's Update	(10/11)

In addition, hackers hit AOL's Court TV area last November.