Today I was hacked. I know that is a very quaint way of starting off an article, but it is true. I was full of energy and enthusiasm today when I woke up. However, when I got onto Whyville my mood suddenly changed. Personally, I don't understand why a person would hack. It shows a lack of respect for another person.
How Do You Know if You Have been Hacked?
Sometimes, it is tricky to notice if you have been hacked. Hackers can take small things over a large period of time. For example, they may take only a small amount of clams or perhaps 1 or 2 valuable face parts. The majority of the time, you don't even recognize it.
Other times you do notice. Many, many clams are taken as well as face parts. Hackers go for clams and face parts because they are the most beneficial to them. Most of the time, a hacker is someone you know. This person is targeting you for a specific reason (either you have a very valuable face part that they want or an account with a large number of clams).
How Can We Limit Hacking?
Whyville can do lots of thinks to keep hacking to a minimum. We do know that an account can only send 5 clam grams per day. However, there is a way of tricking the computer. When you send a clam gram and it is successfully delivered, you click "back" and send again. You repeat this process several times and it abolishes the "5 clam grams per day rule". Perhaps some of you probably didn't know that. Well, if there were a way we could stop this from happening, hacking wouldn't be as destructive.
Something else we can limit is the number of face parts delivered to a Whyvillian (and yes, to Grandma. Sorry, Grannie!) each day. You see, hackers will send your face parts out to themselves, friends, and Grandma. Since there is no limit on the number of items you can transfer, many hackers send out all of your parts, leaving you with just a head.
How Does Hacking Happen?
The most common way that hackers can get personal information is by you telling them. If you tell them your password, they will get into your account. Even the nicest of people can backstab you.
Another method of getting passwords or other personal information is through the use of MSN Messenger Service. Many of us have MSN and communicate with people on it every day. However, there is a hacking program that can be used on MSN where someone will send you a file to accept. When you accept this file, MSN shuts down. Each time you enter your MSN account, the hacker will get your password. Even when you change it, if you didn't give out your password to anyone and you find yourself suddenly hacked, chances are this is what happened. (That is what happened to me.)
To avoid this, never download or accept a file from someone unless you're absolutely certain that you trust them. If you're ever uncertain about their motives but you still want to download the file (mp3, whatever), make sure you're not using an email account that has access to your Whyville passwords -- that way if you lose the account, you won't lose your Whyville.
What To Do if You are Hacked?
The first thing I did when I found out I was hacked was e-mail City Management. This is because the hacker got through to my Whyville account by use of my parental e-mail address. The City Workers are really nice, and help you in whatever way possible. They do understand that things like this can happen. They understand that you are worried and they will try to help you, but they can't do everything, so be patient.
If you can't get to your parental email, chances are you are out of luck. You must have proof that you are not another imposter. The best thing I suggest is to change your password A.S.A.P. Or even start a new account (although I sympathize. Having to start over again for something that someone else did isn't really fair).
Hopefully this helps you out. If you are reading this, change your password. I suggest that you change it every few months. Make the password hard to hack, add symbols and numbers into it. Like t\@rget\$ (targets). This will make it more difficult to crack or guess. The best thing that you can do is to stay alert and stay safe. I hope nothing like this happens to you.
Your faithful reporter,
TIKE
