From Leo's mailbag:
> From: A Computer User
> Sent: June 06, 2005
> To: Ask Leo!
> Subject: =?US-ASCII?Q?RE:_Ask_Leo_Question_-_my_password_and_secret_question_don't?=
>
> Leo,
> Situation: Have used hotmail for some time. Every so often
> (monthly?), hotmail would fail to recognise my password, so I
> would use the secret question to reset the password, back to
> the same one. Curious, strange, but no problem.
>
> Problem: Hotmail once again says my password is incorrect,
> but... Complete change in the hotmail interface, including
> that they seem to have CHANGED the secret question!!! So the
> mother's maiden name no longer works, and they are asking for
> my favourite food, which of course I have never divulged! I
> didn't name an alternate email as I feared more spam or
> marketing from MSN and affiliates.
>
> So, my password is not "forgotten", and neither have I
> "forgotten" the answer to my secret question. The Winged
> Monkeys of Doom at MSN have changed the question!
>
> And no, I've not paid for a premium service either.
>
> Question: Any suggestions? Customer "Help" at MSN has been
> silent (not that I really had any expectation that they would
> actually help). I would at least like to export my address
> book (or update - at least I've exported once before) and
> move messages and subscriptions to a stable email.
It's more likely that your account has been stolen or otherwise
compromised. Unfortunately without the secret question, alternate
email address or some billing information associated with the
account, I know of no way to recover it. It sounds like you've
seen this article, but just in case:
http://ask-leo.com/ive_forgotten_the_answer_to_my_msn_hotmail_secret_question_and_my_password_what_do_i_do.html
Thanks for asking!
Leo
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