Public Service Announcement: Hacked ID's
Twice in the past 24 hours someone has posted a message saying their ID was hacked and a hacker demanding $50 in bitcoin from at address hosted on the gmx mail server (...@gmx.com; BTW I've contacted the postmaster at GMX but I'm not holding my breath.). While I'm not the expert to tell you this is a trend or a rarity I am posting for the sake of users here who may or may not be aware there are simple steps to take that can protect your account far better from a potential "hack"
Firstly:
if this is a hack don't pay anyone regardless. There is no guarantee you will get your system unlocked by anyone.
Contact Apple at 1-800-MY-APPLE or use apple.com/contact for a list of worldwide phone numbers. and if you think your Apple ID has been compromised see this article:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204145
Secondly consider the following preventive measures if you have not done so already:
You may wish to change your Apple ID log/pass with a password you do not use for any other on line service. If you use your same log/pass combo with another service (e.g. Yahoo, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and that service is "hacked" then the perpetrators have to only try typing this same combo in any other service to get into your other accounts.
To change your Apple ID password, see the link below:
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/KM205079
To change the Email associated with the ID or remove the email currently in use:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202667
Also consider enabling two factor authentication if you have not done so already.
Availability of two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support
