Having your social media accounts hacked because you had a ridiculously simple password is pretty embarrassing, but it’s even worse when you’re the head of one of the world’s largest social media platforms.
Mark Zuckerberg probably knows that sinking feeling all too well right about now, as news has emerged that hacker(s) gained access to some of his accounts online.
Hacker(s) posted messages from Zuckerberg’s Twitter and Pinterest accounts, reports Business Insider, although reports his Instagram was also compromised have been denied by Facebook.
Rather pleased with their efforts, the hacker(s) – who refer to themselves as OurMine Team – even posted the unbelievably simple password they used to gain access.
The man who set up Facebook was apparently using the word ‘dadada’ as security.
Ouch. Mark Zuckerberg's social media accounts have been hacked pic.twitter.com/KvVmXOIg5s
— Ben Hall (@Ben_Hall) June 5, 2016
Based on the evidence presented by OurMine Team, Zuck broke a cardinal sin of password protection – he reused an old one.
He was supposedly one of the victims in the 2012 hack of Linkedin, and failed to take the necessary precautions as a consequence.
A message on his Twitter read:
Hey, [Mark Zuckerberg.] You were in [the] Linkedin Database with the password “dadada” ! DM for proof.
The fact he reused the password isn’t even the most embarrassing part.
How many times are social media users told to use complex passwords, one number and one cap, and yet the CEO of Facebook can’t even be bothered to follow his own rule.
Well, take this as proof, if it can happen to him it can happen to any of us, so secure your accounts as best you can!