NY Times login password breach

[John F]

If you subscribe to the NY Times online edition you may have received the email I got this morning. Even if you don't, you may find this interesting.

Our security team has discovered that, due to a security breach at an external site unrelated to The New York Times, elements of your personal information may have been leaked publicly. This breach was not in our system, and we have not detected any unusual activity related to your Times account. However, as a proactive measure we've taken steps to secure your account, and we're requesting that you reset your password.

We regularly monitor the publicly available information that results from major leaks and breaches in other websites and systems. We've found information that others could have used to gain access to your account.
Was my information hacked?

Because our systems were not involved, we don't know much about this breach. But it appears some of your information at another website or system was leaked publicly. However, we have not detected any signs that this resulted in your Times account being compromised.

We've secured your Times account, so that the publicly available information cannot be used to gain access. Before you can log in again, you'll have to reset your password. We will continue to monitor for suspicious activity and maintain security for all Times accounts.

First, you should reset your New York Times password.

If you use the same password on any other sites, we encourage you to reset those passwords as well. In addition to using different passwords on every site, You may also want to read additional Times reporter tips on protecting your information online.

If you have questions or concerns, you can chat with us now or call us at 800-NYTIMES (800-698-4637). If you have questions or concerns, you can chat with us now or call us at 800-NYTIMES (800-698-4637).

Customer Care and Security Teams
The New York Times

[jserraglio]

Interesting story, thanks. Is this yet another instance of the "failing New York Times" succeeding?

I get all the Times stories I need via the Apple News app on my iPhone (which I refuse to activate to make and take silly phone calls) so I haven't subscribed yet, but I am sorely tempted. NYT, WAPO and New Yorker: they are my Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

I think the Times is actually a greater paper today than when, put off by my textbooks but starved for information, I read my college's library copy of the Times pretty much cover to cover every day: an alternative and more authentic education. To me even its old-fashioned typography has become emblematic of truth! Never once did the crossword puzzle though. Too hard.

[lennygoran]

We're in our hotel here in springfield Ma and using my tablet I was able to read the news this morning and noticed nothing unusal using my tablet-don't know if this is a real threat? Len

[jserraglio]

We're in our hotel here in springfield Ma and using my tablet I was able to read the news this morning and noticed nothing unusal using my tablet-don't know if this is a real threat? Len

Speaking of Ma, I am listening to a fabulous Bach recital he gave Aug 1 in a fabulous place: Red Rocks, Colorado.

[lennygoran]

Joe what a stretch-I accuse you of fake news! Len

[lennygoran]

Joe what a stretch-I accuse you of fake news! Len

Hey Len you forgot to tell him you just read the article on MAnafort offered in today's NYTimes on/line. Len

[jserraglio]

Joe what a stretch-I accuse you of fake news! Len

Yo Mama!

[lennygoran]

Joe what a stretch-I accuse you of fake news! Len

Yo Mama!

I get it-rhymes with obaMA! Len

[John F]

We're in our hotel here in springfield Ma and using my tablet I was able to read the news this morning and noticed nothing unusal using my tablet

If you logged in using your old password, then you could still read a limited number of stories before the Times's pay wall blocks you. Or maybe there's a way around the paywall such as jserraglio describes.

[lennygoran]

We're in our hotel here in springfield Ma and using my tablet I was able to read the news this morning and noticed nothing unusal using my tablet

If you logged in using your old password, then you could still read a limited number of stories before the Times's pay wall blocks you. Or maybe there's a way around the paywall that I don't know about, as I pay for my subscription.

John I'll watch out for any blockage-right now the pages I'm reading show that they recognize me and that it's not just a certain number of freebies-I've gone to the Times about 5 times just this morning without a problem but maybe some warning will arrive-I'll let you know if that happens. Len

[jserraglio]

maybe there's a way around the paywall such as jserraglio describes.

Indeed, AppleNews serves up many NYT articles with no limit on the number you can read. I read dozens of articles every day. Of course, you are limited to what is pushed at you, but their algorithm pushes you what you show interest in so it is more than enough. Also there are RELATED ARTICLE links at the bottom of each story--these are not served up by Apple News but if you click on them you can read them in the app with no monthly limit. The paywall counter never advances beyond where you are when you use the web browser instead of the app.

That is not true of the WAPO channel; they limit you to what the app serves up. Same thing for the WSJ channel. But the WSJ site accords you no freebies thru your Web browser, so it is a privilege to have even limited access to this great newspaper via the Apple News app (and I could give a faded freckle that it has a conservative editorial policy -- I voted for Barry and attended John Birch Society mtgs in my misspent youth).

NYT, WSJ, WAPO - those are the only three channels I use in AppleNews and I love them.

[jbuck919]

I received no such message and have had no problem logging in with my computer-memorized password. Everything is compromised these days. The scammers are always a step ahead of the supposed security specialists. Sometimes the security messages themselves are a scam. That is not to say that I mistrust John F's post, because he is usually a bit ahead of me on these matters, but I have passwords from here to Chicago. (I use a pattern to keep them all from being identical and so that I myself can remember them without writing them all down.) I'm not going to change every one every month without some better reason.

My problem with the Times is that all local schools do have security and I can't log in during a planning period when I am substitute teaching. I might get the few free articles every day, but they don't give substitute teachers access to their secure systems, and I'm not about to log in over an unsecured connection. Only Saratoga, a large and wealthy school, has a library that subscribes to the Times, so at least I can read the paper version when I sub there.