Russian KGB Agents Hacked 500 Million Yahoo Users Simply By Catfishing Some Yahoo Employee

Business Insider — The FBI says hackers used social engineering techniques on a “semi-privileged” Yahoo employee in order to break into the company’s systems and access 500 million user accounts.

In an interview with Ars Technica, FBI agent Malcolm Palmore said the hackers were able to use a “spear phishing” email to gain the Yahoo employee’s credentials. Spear phishing emails can encompass various techniques designed to trick the recipient into giving up their personal information. Phishing emails usually appear to come from a trusted source.

Yahoo! Yikes! Tough look here for this employee. You got catfished by a Russian KGB hacker who then hacked 500 MILLION users’ information and set your company back years. Unlucky. Maybe keep your head on a swivel when handing out every detail of your person information over email.

1) Oh Jim from sales wants to meet at 11? Yes, no problem!

2) Oh Carrie from HR wants to grab lunch at 12? Yes, no problem!

3) Oh Vladimir from Moscow wants my name, age, sex, location, home address, social security number, bank account, routing number, favorite sex position, employee login information, password, and to know what color underwear I’m wearing? Yes, no problem!

What an idiot, what a fucking idiot! (too bad vine does not anymore exist). Honestly, who gets spear phished?

One of the most famous recent cases of phishing was when former Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta fell victim to such an email, causing his private messages to leak.

Oh. Right.