Cybercriminals are stepping up the hijacking of Apple iTunes accounts, often leaving consumers distraught.Hijackers buy iTunes logons from e-mail phishers expert at tricking you into typing your credentials at spoofed websites. ITunes logons also get stolen and sold off by hackers who spread computer infections containing keystroke loggers that capture logons as you type them.
Hijackers often begin by testing a few $1 purchases before moving on to larger transactions. They typically buy iTunes gift card codes, usually in $50 to $200 amounts. They then sell the codes — which can be used like cash to buy music and videos — at a steep discount, openly on the Internet. "Any online account that allows the transfer of funds can be a cash cow," says Randy Eset, education director for anti-virus firm ESET.
Apple says there is little it can do about iTunes account hijacking. The company advises victims to change their passwords and contact their financial institution about being made whole.
ITunes hijacking has been happening for at least a year. It heated up after CEO Steve Jobs boasted at a June conference that Apple supports 150 million iTunes users, says Kurt Baumgartner, senior researcher at Kaspersky Lab. continue reading
