Passwords hack: Yahoo fixes security glitch

Yahoo has announced that it has fixed a glitch in its security software that allowed hackers access to 450,000 email addresses and passwords.

In a statement on the company blog, a Yahoo spokesman said the firm has deployed additional security measures for its affected users.

"Yahoo recently confirmed that an older file containing approximately 450,000 email addresses and passwords was compromised," the spokesman wrote.

"We have taken swift action and have now fixed this vulnerability, deployed additional security measures for affected Yahoo users, enhanced our underlying security controls and are in the process of notifying affected users.

In addition, we will continue to take significant measures to protect our users and their data," he added.

According to The Telegraph, hackers belonging to a group called D33Ds Company posted the Yahoo account information on a public website in what they described as 'a wake-up call' last week.

"We hope that the parties responsible for managing the security of this sub-domain will take this as a wake-up call, and not as a threat," the hackers said in a message posted along with the leaked data.

"There have been many security holes exploited in web servers belonging to Yahoo. that have caused far greater damage than our disclosure. Please do not take them lightly. The sub-domain and vulnerable parameters have not been posted to avoid further damage," they added.