So here I sit, unable to log into my Google account due to some wonderful hackers.  I’m not sure why but my domains/accounts/etc have been targeted several times by hackers.  I appreciate the experience however as I’m learning my fair share about security.

This attack led the hackers to somehow gain access to my Google account and once in, they changed my password. I’ve spent all day fixing defaced websites, changing passwords and cleaning up my server to make it easier to catch suspicious files.  Like I said, I appreciate the experience.

Soon after I got my e-mails routed back to my original e-mail address that’s not GMail I got an e-mail from Facebook notifying me that my password has been changed.  I immediately clicked the link that was available if I had not initiated the change.  I was taken to a login page where it recognized that I put in the old password and gave me the option to lock my account or verify that I am the actual owner.  It took me to a page where it asked me if I was the user in ( a country far far away ), logging on using Firefox on a Windows 7 computer.  I told the system that that’s not me and I wanted to change my password.  After doing so, I felt much better knowing that the culprit is locked out of something.

It’s now been twelve hours since this all started.  I did receive one phone call from Google.  Upon answering however, the Google employee start coughing right before we got disconnected.  This was several hours ago and I have yet to receive another call.  I re-submitted the form to request my password be forcefully reset as well as attempting dozens of times to log in using my old credentials hoping that maybe.. eventually.. that Google would think “Whoao… Something’s wrong here.” — but nothing.

I guess the biggest disappointment is not that I’m locked out but that the hacker is still in there! I would honestly appreciate the account being locked down completely if there’s someone else trying to get in.  Keep the account locked up until an investigation is conducted… Don’t let the hacker in and allow him/her to do as they please with all my information!  I started thinking about the extent of the information and my word, it’s frightening!

I’ll follow up after this gets resolved — if it ever does!!!