LinkedIn suffers security breach

Business networking site LinkedIn suffered a huge data break-in that resulted in six million users' password being published in plain format on a Russian hacker forum.

The breach forced millions to change their password but questions were raised over LinkedIn's lax security and light encryption techniques. The theft of user passwords is not unknown. Recently both music site LastFM and dating site eHarmony were targeted by hackers and had passwords stolen.

The theft nevertheless raising doubts over the security efforts in place in many Internet companies and may well boost European efforts to introduce legislation and heavy fines for those companies that do not adequately protect their customers.