Flyertalker gone too far
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
Flyertalker gone too far
I first thought I should e-mail Randy about this, but this pretty much warrants a post here.
I haven't been posting on FlyerTalk for the past few months because of work, and I posted today for the first time in a while and noticed this on my profile:
UAPremierExec
Posts: 1293
From: Ft. Lauderdale Florida (too many Jews ) and at 35,000 feet
Registered: Sep 2001
I'm a bit concerned by these comments under location and I tend to keep my passwords secret, as well as use a variation of them.
But somehow, a user here has been able to alter my location, and it bothers me.
Can anyone offer any insight as to the security of the FlyerTalk system?
And after a comment like this, can anyone tell me how long it's been like this?
Any help is appreciated.
I haven't been posting on FlyerTalk for the past few months because of work, and I posted today for the first time in a while and noticed this on my profile:
UAPremierExec
Posts: 1293
From: Ft. Lauderdale Florida (too many Jews ) and at 35,000 feet
Registered: Sep 2001
I'm a bit concerned by these comments under location and I tend to keep my passwords secret, as well as use a variation of them.
But somehow, a user here has been able to alter my location, and it bothers me.
Can anyone offer any insight as to the security of the FlyerTalk system?
And after a comment like this, can anyone tell me how long it's been like this?
Any help is appreciated.
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP/1mm/Admirals,United Silver+Club (life),Marriott Titanium,Hilton & Accor Gold
Posts: 5,061
Why don't you just change your password to something more secure. Perhaps changing all of your other account passwords would also be a good idea.
And, no, I don't think this warrants a post here. You should e-mail the FlyerTalk people.
And, no, I don't think this warrants a post here. You should e-mail the FlyerTalk people.
#3
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
This concern seems appropriate for our Technical Issues forum and I'll move it there. While that forum title sounds bland, it really seems the best place to focus on your concerns over the security of this site.
Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, Community
Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, Community
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
So how can I get my profile info fixed on my 2 posts on the GLBT board? I thought by fixing my profile, it would automatically change the profile information, but it seems to still revert to the old info.
this is so not cool...
this is so not cool...
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
Re GLBT threads .. a *suggestion* that might work is to post something new on the thread or edit your existing post in some minor way. I *think* then the new post reflects your current signature?
Re original problem ... were you posting before at any place with a lot of FT'ers?
At Bernie's apartment in DUS last month I started this thread and many others posted on it over a beer.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum32/HTML/003047.html
One FT'er tried to get her sign-in cookie deleted. Several folks worked on this and it simply would not disappear. So Bernie can now post for many FT'ers.
(The year before it was over a dozen cookies stayed stored, but then he upgraded his computer. )
Re original problem ... were you posting before at any place with a lot of FT'ers?
At Bernie's apartment in DUS last month I started this thread and many others posted on it over a beer.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum32/HTML/003047.html
One FT'er tried to get her sign-in cookie deleted. Several folks worked on this and it simply would not disappear. So Bernie can now post for many FT'ers.
(The year before it was over a dozen cookies stayed stored, but then he upgraded his computer. )
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
UAPremierExec,
What ozstamps brings up is something that you have to be careful of. If you are using a shared computer (at work, school, cafe, Kinkos, friends house, etc.) you want to make sure that you don't leave your login information behind. I would suggest only using modern browsers on a shared computer (some older browsers have issues with letting go of cookies when they should), do not use the preferances link to have your password remembered and completely quit the browser application after you have posted.
Even with these precautions you are not completely safe on a shared computer as someone could install software that logs keystrokes or something similar to capture passwords and any other info entered. I hope this helps,
-Tim
[This message has been edited by Tim at WebFlyer (edited 08-06-2003).]
What ozstamps brings up is something that you have to be careful of. If you are using a shared computer (at work, school, cafe, Kinkos, friends house, etc.) you want to make sure that you don't leave your login information behind. I would suggest only using modern browsers on a shared computer (some older browsers have issues with letting go of cookies when they should), do not use the preferances link to have your password remembered and completely quit the browser application after you have posted.
Even with these precautions you are not completely safe on a shared computer as someone could install software that logs keystrokes or something similar to capture passwords and any other info entered. I hope this helps,
-Tim
[This message has been edited by Tim at WebFlyer (edited 08-06-2003).]
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
To follow on the good advice that Tim posted, airline lounges where there are free computer stations (i.e. most of them except for UA!) are a particular problem to be mindful of. Clearly quite a lot of folks using these locations are FT'ers.
I have read many times where FT'ers have logged onto to FT at lounges, where the previous person to have do so's user name and password spring to life.
I saw a post on FT once where someone had typed:
"I am not xxxxxx and I have not ever visited this board before. However I suggest NEXT time that xxxxxx closes down the screen before he leaves the computer."
There was no harm done there, but that person clearly if they were minded could have changed user profile data, or posted some really nasty stuff.
I have read many times where FT'ers have logged onto to FT at lounges, where the previous person to have do so's user name and password spring to life.
I saw a post on FT once where someone had typed:
"I am not xxxxxx and I have not ever visited this board before. However I suggest NEXT time that xxxxxx closes down the screen before he leaves the computer."
There was no harm done there, but that person clearly if they were minded could have changed user profile data, or posted some really nasty stuff.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
Well, I never store my passwords on any computer, but this was done maliciously to my profile... plus before 5 aug, I had not posted or visited FlyerTalk since mid June...
I'm glad someone got a laugh out of it. I certainly didn't.
I'm glad someone got a laugh out of it. I certainly didn't.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Reality, Freedom • Fly Tarom •
Programs: AF FB Platinum For Life (F+ Rouge Vintage®) / Hertz President's Circle / SNCF Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 10,077
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UAPremierExec:
I'm glad someone got a laugh out of it. I certainly didn't.</font>
I'm glad someone got a laugh out of it. I certainly didn't.</font>
(spelling)
[This message has been edited by blairvanhorn (edited 08-07-2003).]
#10
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: bringing sexy back
Posts: 7,751
Let's see.
1. User gets called on a part of his profile that is exactly the same as comments he earlier posted on FT.
2. Same user claims "someone hacked into his profile" and put the offensive comment there, despite his not having used any public computers, and there being no other evidence of hacking into user's account.
Flyertalker gone too far, indeed.
1. User gets called on a part of his profile that is exactly the same as comments he earlier posted on FT.
2. Same user claims "someone hacked into his profile" and put the offensive comment there, despite his not having used any public computers, and there being no other evidence of hacking into user's account.
Flyertalker gone too far, indeed.
#11
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 473
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UAPremierExec:
I first thought I should e-mail Randy about this, but this pretty much warrants a post here.
I haven't been posting on FlyerTalk for the past few months because of work, and I posted today for the first time in a while and noticed this on my profile:
UAPremierExec
Posts: 1293
From: Ft. Lauderdale Florida (too many Jews ) and at 35,000 feet
Registered: Sep 2001
I'm a bit concerned by these comments under location and I tend to keep my passwords secret, as well as use a variation of them.
But somehow, a user here has been able to alter my location, and it bothers me.
Can anyone offer any insight as to the security of the FlyerTalk system?
And after a comment like this, can anyone tell me how long it's been like this?
Any help is appreciated.</font>
I first thought I should e-mail Randy about this, but this pretty much warrants a post here.
I haven't been posting on FlyerTalk for the past few months because of work, and I posted today for the first time in a while and noticed this on my profile:
UAPremierExec
Posts: 1293
From: Ft. Lauderdale Florida (too many Jews ) and at 35,000 feet
Registered: Sep 2001
I'm a bit concerned by these comments under location and I tend to keep my passwords secret, as well as use a variation of them.
But somehow, a user here has been able to alter my location, and it bothers me.
Can anyone offer any insight as to the security of the FlyerTalk system?
And after a comment like this, can anyone tell me how long it's been like this?
Any help is appreciated.</font>
Access to the server is tightly controlled -- we know who acesses the machine, and where it was accessed from -- there have been no unusual server accesses logged.
Your account may have been compromised but it has not been compromised via server or board system intrusion.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,469
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by John at Webflyer:
Access to the server is tightly controlled -- we know who acesses the machine, and where it was accessed from -- there have been no unusual server accesses logged.
Your account may have been compromised but it has not been compromised via server or board system intrusion.</font>
Access to the server is tightly controlled -- we know who acesses the machine, and where it was accessed from -- there have been no unusual server accesses logged.
Your account may have been compromised but it has not been compromised via server or board system intrusion.</font>