SteveK
Premium
join:2001-11-12
Kensington, MD
 ·Verizon FIOS
| [northeast] Verizon wants me to change my password
When I went to my Verizon home page this morning, I found this notice at the top of that page:
IMPORTANT SECURITY ALERT re: Verizon email and your passwords
When I clicked on that link, I found a notice that Verizon wants me to change my verizon.net e-mail password by 7 p.m. today (see below).
I have no intention of changing this password unless I'm convinced it's necessary. I'm one of the "sacred text" school who uses the same password for almost everything. I'm fairly strict on security. I just did a complete system scan with my Norton AV on April 7. I have Spyware Blaster, Windows Defender, AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy. I use the built-in Windows firewall (I finally uninstalled Zone Alarm Free after too many problems), and use the D-Link router supplied with my Verizon FIOS installation.
I have no indication that my machine is being used as a zombie. I don't know how many people Verizon sent this notice to, or what prompted it. I would appreciate any clarification others on this forum might be able to give.
I might add that this is the first problem I've had with Verizon FIOS in the 10 months I've been using it. Up until now, FIOS has been smooth, fast, reliable and trouble-free for me.
Here's the full text of the notice:
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Announcements
Important Security Alert re: Verizon email and your passwords
Some Verizon Online customers may have received a security notice from Verizon Online identifying a potential virus on your computer. Some computers may have been infected by a virus and Verizon.net email accounts are being used by hackers. If you received this email from Verizon it is critical that you change your Verizon.net password immediately.
Changing your password should limit the ability of the virus to sent email through your Verizon.net email account. Passwords must be changed by 7 PM Eastern time on Saturday April 22, 2006. Below are the steps to change your password. It will take only a few minutes.
Change the password on your Verizon.net email account.
Please visit »netservices.verizon.net (copy and paste the link into your browser, never click a link in email).
Please click on the My Account tab/link at the top of the page.
Please type in your current username and password and sign in.
Once you are logged into the website you will see a link that says "Edit Password or Secret Question" please click the Edit link.
Once the next page loads fill in your current password and then the new password you would like to have. You will then have to enter the new password in 2 times to confirm.
Remember, it is also a good idea to change all of the passwords on any sub accounts you may have.
Note: Using easily guessed passwords or passwords containing consecutive letters or numbers such as 123abc are not appropriate or secure. It is generally a good idea to change your passwords periodically. Changing your password once per month will help protect you from others who abuse accounts.
Update your anti-virus definitions. If you do not use anti-virus software and anti-spyware software, we strongly recommend that you purchase such software or use one of the free virus scanning services on the Internet. Anti-virus and anti-spyware products are available from Verizon Online and many other security software providers.
Scan your computer for viruses and spyware and keep your software up to date. Some viruses will install software which can grab your saved passwords and use them to send spam. Spyware can be installed onto your PC by a virus or by clicking a link on a malicious website. As with viruses, it may grab your passwords and use them to send spam. The best way to protect your computer and your personal information is to keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware software definitions up to date and to scan you computer frequently.
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY | Why don't you just call them and ask them if it is legitimate? |
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justin9876
join:2006-04-21
Keller, TX
| reply to SteveK
I found the same notice on the Verizon website. But if you read it carefully it says (at least to me) to change it if, and only if, you have received the e-mail. I did not receive any e-mail from Verizon, so I don't plan to change my password.
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| reply to SteveK
As long as you did not GET the Email message from VZ, there should be no problem with your computer or account.
I'd guess some members have been compromised, and tonight they're going to "turn off" those which passwords have not been updated, to stop spam-bots.
I'm not changing mine either.
--
~Help find a cure for Cancer~
~Proud Member of Team Discovery ~ |
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SteveK
Premium
join:2001-11-12
Kensington, MD
·Verizon FIOS
| Re:Verizon wants me to change my password
Thanks for the replies. After looking again at the security notice from Verizon, I see that it does indeed say "If you received this email from Verizon," and I did not receive any such email.
I think I panicked unnecessarily. My apologies to all. |
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