> Found while lurking on [log in to unmask]:
>
> I just had a sobering experience! My former ISP, Internet America,
> gave my logon and password over the phone to an individual who was a
> complete stranger to me. Fortunately, he called me and told me what thay
> had done. I have since switched ISPs. I now get better service and more
> features for the same price. If this individual had sent threats to
> government officials or logged on and retrieved my Email, I would never
> have known about it until the "jackbooted government thugs" :-) kicked
> in my door.

Chances of this happening are pretty slim.  Every case of which I've heard
where the thugs came, was _not_ a situation where an existing login was
co-opted.

>   This gives one pause to reflect on what could have happened! Be
> careful in your choice of an ISP.

The fact that your ISP called you indicates that they acted in good faith,
and were trying to fix an error they made.  Perhaps you are the loser, for
dumping an ISP that is doing its best to cope with a chaotic environment.

I have learned many things from my users (of whom we have over 1,500).  If
they had all packed up and left college the first time somebody here made
a mistake, we wouldn't be here.  And if we threw students out the first
time they did something stupid, we wouldn't be here.  College is all about
learning.  Sort of like the Internet, y'know...

OTOH, if you gently suggested that they reconsider their policy of giving
out passwords without validating info like your SSN or mother's maiden
name and they refused to consider the idea, they are welcome to their
fate.  Your vote will undoubtedly be one of many.
--
        /\--.     John A. Beckett             Unlimited 28.8 dialup, only
       /  \  )    Southern Adventist Univ.    $1,400 per month.  Includes
      /----\---.  (423) 238-2701 voice        room, board, phone, college
 \   /      \   \ 238-2431 FAX 396-2453 home  education, and 9 cent rate to
  `-'        `--' [log in to unmask]       call home.