Thousands of personal e-mail passwords have been posted online after a "phishing scheme" targeted users of web-based e-mail providers like Gmail and Hotmail, according to media reports.
A phishing scheme uses fake Web sites to lure web users into revealing personal information.
The attack was discovered when 10,000 Hotmail addresses were posted online at Pastebin.
In a news report, BBC News reported that it had seen two lists, detailing more than 30,000 names and passwords from e-mail providers including AOL and Yahoo. It's reported that Google discovered a third list.
A Google spokesperson told the media that it was aware of an "industry-wide phishing scheme," and that Google had taken action to protect affected accounts.
