My brother's hotmail has flagged been as compromised. Need help

[Lebon14]

Hey guys.

My brother's hotmail account has been compromised and now, Hotmail shows a security measure where he has to type in a cellphone number to receive a SMS.

Problem :
We don't have any cellphone with a SMS function. Not even a regular cellphone. He can't connect, so he can't change its password. Is there a way to recover the account without using f*g SMS?

Thanks guys.

 

[t-4-2]

Hey guys.

My brother's hotmail account has been compromised and now, Hotmail shows a security measure where he has to type in a cellphone number to receive a SMS.

Problem :
We don't have any cellphone with a SMS function. Not even a regular cellphone. He can't connect, so he can't change its password. Is there a way to recover the account without using f*g SMS?

Thanks guys.

In case you don't know, Windows Live Solution Center is supposed to handle all Windows Live issues.
Windows Live Solution Center :
Windows Live Solution Center

Here is the portal to Hotmail :
Hotmail Portal
Have a look at those links, particularly Account Compromise - Unauthorized Account Access

 

[Lebon14]

I viewed this topic before making this thread and it doesn't help. They make it seem that the only way to recover your account is to have a cellphone with SMS. And I'll tell my bro to actually make a virus scan too because, if he has been locked out, something muct be sending e-mails.

 

[Lebon14]

Just noting that he has made a thread on the official Windows Live forums...

 

[logicearth]

Wait...your cellphone has no text masasging support? Is this phone from 1987?

 

[Lebon14]

Wait...your cellphone has no text masasging support? Is this phone from 1987?

We have NO cellphone at all >_<.

 

[logicearth]

Oh, I misread that part.

 

[kado897]

Have you tried the reset password link. Particularly option 4 in your case.

Reset your Windows Live ID Password

 

[Lebon14]

Thanks for the link but nothing on option 4 can help us...
1. Send e-mail to associated address : send e-mail to e-mail needing a password... hmm? Still don't know why this option exists because very few people actually fills the "ALT" address at signup...
2. Send code to cellphone : We wouldn't have started this if we had one of those...
3. Use Trusted PC : Not sure if my bro ever set up his "Trusted PC" since I don't remember what version of Messenger he uses.
4. Customer Service : He used bogus information so... it will be hard to get through here.

 

[kado897]

oh well it was just a thought. I don't use Hotmail myself so i am not up to spec on the recovery options.

 

[mickey megabyte]

i'm wondering whether there's some web service which allows you to receive sms messages.

something like google voice - i don't know what's available for you in canada - might be worth spending a little time googling?

 

[DeaconFrost]

It should be very easy to find a friend with a cell phone, I would think. I didn't think anyone in 2011 didn't have a cell phone, at all.

 

[Lebon14]

It should be very easy to find a friend with a cell phone, I would think. I didn't think anyone in 2011 didn't have a cell phone, at all.

He doesn't want to go that way and... yes, I don't want to pay 50$ a month I don't plan on using at all.

 

[kado897]

I don't use my mobile much either. That's why I use pay and go. You pay for the phone up front but the running costs can be £o p.m. if you don't use it.

 

[Anak]

It should be very easy to find a friend with a cell phone, I would think. I didn't think anyone in 2011 didn't have a cell phone, at all.

He doesn't want to go that way and... yes, I don't want to pay 50$ a month I don't plan on using at all.

Lebon do you have anything like Walmart nearby?

$10buck disposable phone Walmart

 

[Lebon14]

Nearest Wal-Mart is 1h15min of road from my house... and mobility in Canada is not what you think it is...

We are not interressed anyway.

 

[DeaconFrost]

No one is suggesting you buy a cell phone. That's why I suggested just having a friend help out. It would take all of a minute, and the problem would be solved.

 

[Lebon14]

No one is suggesting you buy a cell phone. That's why I suggested just having a friend help out. It would take all of a minute, and the problem would be solved.

Problem here is my bro's ego doesn't want to.

EDIT

Well, maybe... maybe he'll change idea... knowing that maybe it's the only way to retrieve it.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I'm starting to wonder if there's more to this story than we're being told. If your brother had an ego that would prevent him from asking a friend for help, there's no way he wouldn't have a cell phone in 2011.

 

[Anak]

Lebon I came across this post at Contact Help It seems this problem has been affecting a majority of Hotmail users for quite some time, and it seems indiscriminate in who it affects.

I am surprised Hotmail has chosen to ignore it. If it gets much bigger you may see it in the news:

I have the same problem, but I have found a way to access my account. I went to the contacthelp screen: Hotmail customer service phone numbers and support

Under the large word "Hotmail" was website Sign In

I clicked on it and was taken to the sigh-in screen. I entered my email and password and got into my account. I don't know why this works, but it does.

This way is a hassel, but at least I can get to my account.

Richard 5/22/11 8:25PM

It does not allow permalinks to individual posts, but you can find it several pages back if you watch for the date/time stamp.

What he is saying is he can still get in if he uses the link to the Windows Live Hotmail Sign-in page through the Contact Help link.

I show it in this pix, it is the red box with the arrow pointing to it.


From other postings here at 7F it sounds like Hotmail is changing the sign-in page - i.e. multiple users is now gone and somehow Hotmail screwed something up and it sent out the compromised announcement to users making them responsible for trying to get back in, but that's just My Humble Opinion.

Have your brother use his regular Live ID and password, and see if it works.
What do you have to lose, it's worth a try.