AP Hacker Problem

[749006]

AP have posted this on their Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/armstrongpower ... 4529777340

At 16:58 today, our website was compromised by hackers. Anyone who tried to purchase something after this time and received an error message may have had their card details compromised.

Please accept our sincerest apologies for this. As a result, the website has been taken offline until further notice until we can fix this.

[IronBidder]

It seems an odd target for hackers/scammers unless they want to be a big fish in a small pond!

Let's hope AP get it back up soon and that account details haven't been stolen or corrupted. It must be worrying for them.

[749006]

The Hackers are not stealing from AP

They are stealing Your Credit Card details

[IronBidder]

The Hackers are not stealing from AP

They are stealing Your Credit Card details

Yes, I know that, but hacking AP's site is a bit like a mugger lurking on a country lane, they are going to find fewer victims than if they prey on a busy highway.

And unless I've missed something AP only accept PayPal, so AP's site won't be storing credit card details and I would think that PayPal's site is hard to hack.

[Class2ldn]

I bought from them the other day and I didn't pay through PayPal

[holzroller]

I would certainly hope so, but I've changed my paypal password just in case. Better safe than sorry as they say.

[SkylineBoy]

And unless I've missed something AP only accept PayPal, so AP's site won't be storing credit card details and I would think that PayPal's site is hard to hack.

You could choose to pay directly via card or via Paypal. I'm not sure which merchant handles direct card payments for them? Whoever it is, i'd imagine this is where they think the potential breach is.

[Class2ldn]

So how do they know anyone who purchased before the time is safe?

[Springer6]

It seems an odd target for hackers/scammers unless they want to be a big fish in a small pond!

Let's hope AP get it back up soon and that account details haven't been stolen or corrupted. It must be worrying for them.

The hackers have today hijacked my Steam Account. They have changed the password and the registered e-mail address. It has been fiendishly difficult to contact Steam Support over this . Steam Support have requested financial details of my Steam purchases , which I have provided. However they have still not restored access to my Steam Account, so I cannot use TS.

I hope that this will be sorted soon, but it illustrates that even individuals (in a small pond) can be the victim of hacks. I'm not sure of the motive, but presumably it allows them to download my large DLC library free of charge ? Again if that is the reason, they seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to do it .

See full details on the "Steam Help" section of this forum.

[21C164FighterCommand]

It seems an odd target for hackers/scammers unless they want to be a big fish in a small pond!

Let's hope AP get it back up soon and that account details haven't been stolen or corrupted. It must be worrying for them.

The hackers have today hijacked my Steam Account. They have changed the password and the registered e-mail address. It has been fiendishly difficult to contact Steam Support over this . Steam Support have requested financial details of my Steam purchases , which I have provided. However they have still not restored access to my Steam Account, so I cannot use TS.

I hope that this will be sorted soon, but it illustrates that even individuals (in a small pond) can be the victim of hacks. I'm not sure of the motive, but presumably it allows them to download my large DLC library free of charge ? Again if that is the reason, they seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to do it .

See full details on the "Steam Help" section of this forum.

Why go into the trouble of hacking a Steam account, as all the games, DLC are readily available on the warez sites, torrents etc etc?

[Springer6]

It seems an odd target for hackers/scammers unless they want to be a big fish in a small pond!

Let's hope AP get it back up soon and that account details haven't been stolen or corrupted. It must be worrying for them.

The hackers have today hijacked my Steam Account. They have changed the password and the registered e-mail address. It has been fiendishly difficult to contact Steam Support over this . Steam Support have requested financial details of my Steam purchases , which I have provided. However they have still not restored access to my Steam Account, so I cannot use TS.

I hope that this will be sorted soon, but it illustrates that even individuals (in a small pond) can be the victim of hacks. I'm not sure of the motive, but presumably it allows them to download my large DLC library free of charge ? Again if that is the reason, they seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to do it .

See full details on the "Steam Help" section of this forum.

Why go into the trouble of hacking a Steam account, as all the games, DLC are readily available on the warez sites, torrents etc etc?

Search me, but I understand that Steam Accounts are hacked quite often !

[SkylineBoy]

Search me, but I understand that Steam Accounts are hacked quite often !

Yes, but how were you hacked? There have been multiple recent warnings about people clicking links offered in Steam chat, which then ask people to log into Steam and therefore giving away their Steam details.

[sbowness]

And unless I've missed something AP only accept PayPal, so AP's site won't be storing credit card details and I would think that PayPal's site is hard to hack.

You could choose to pay directly via card or via Paypal. I'm not sure which merchant handles direct card payments for them? Whoever it is, i'd imagine this is where they think the potential breach is.

They use PayPal for both options, I believe. Richard's concern is that anyone who will have entered their card details or credentials after the hack will have exposed them to the hackers. Anything before that time should be secure but it is always worth keeping an eye on your accounts for any unusual activity (which you should be doing anyway). I would also change my password for the site itself.

I feel sorry for Richard. This is not the sort of thing any business wants, let alone a small business. He's now got to go to the time, effort and expense of re-securing the website and handle the possible reputational damage. Thankfully, most of his customers are a loyal community that will be understanding of the issues.

[Springer6]

Search me, but I understand that Steam Accounts are hacked quite often !

Yes, but how were you hacked? There have been multiple recent warnings about people clicking links offered in Steam chat, which then ask people to log into Steam and therefore giving away their Steam details.

I have NEVER used Steam Chat....I have always tried to ignore it . I do not click on any links unless certain of what they are.

I have only used Steam to do 3 things....Use TS, look at and download/upload Workshop items and to purchase/validate new/existing DLC.

I suspect that the process of Steam inexplicably and consistently refusing my Password and having me validate it via an e-mail supplied code on EVERY log in over recent days may have something to do with how the hack happened, but I'm not sure how hackers could engineer that. This constant Steam request for a password validation occurred before, a few months ago, but ceased when I submitted a complaint about it ? On that occasion my e-mail address was not changed and my original password continued to work.

I have no idea how it happened, I know that the e-mail address that mine was changed to, was most probably a Russian one.

I don't allow Steam to store my payment details , but have changed my passwords to be sure.

I just wish Steam Support would be a bit quicker in restoring normal service.

[Class2ldn]

Once the ap site is back up il change my password asap