itunes account hacked

Someone has hacked into my iTunes account for the second time. A few months ago they used my credit card number on file to purchase music. I had to cancel my credit card (what a pain) and I removed it from being stored on iTunes. My credit card company was very helpful in removing the charges. Apple did absolutely nothing to help me.

This time, a thief hacked into my account (I sure hope it wasn't the same one) and used my iTunes gift card number to purchase apps. I only used this gift card once to purchase a song in May for 99 cents. I did not store the number anywhere. How in the world did they get into my account AND get my gift card number?

This person also decided to change my nickname on the account and proceeded to write some reviews on the apps they purchased with my gift card. How special!

Anyone else having this issue? Is Apple ever going to step up and handle these situations or are we stuck getting hacked everytime we use iTunes?

Based on the evidence so far:

No, Apple is not going to step up and handle these situations.

Yes, we risk getting hacked every time we use the iTunes Store.

Conclusion? We need to stop using the iTunes Store.

Hackers got me for 900 dollars about a month ago Apple/itunes were absolutely no help at all I understand this is a bank issue and it was resolved, but how solid of a business can you be if I can go to youtube and learn how to hack itunes accounts? I have 3 computers authorized on my itunes account, the only place I use itunes is on my laptop and can't even disable the other 2 because the disable all button is gone, can anyone suggest what I can do about that? Anyway, Apple/ATT this is the last straw, between the dropped calls, which I have chosen to live with, terrible customer service and now account hacked its time to say goodbye and good riddance, Droid here I come!!!!

Contact iTunes Store support by e-mail and request that they deauthorize all your accounts, I did this as part of my response to being hacked and just now heard back from them (72 hours later) saying they'd done this. It won't get your money back, but at least it stops the thieves from enjoying their ill-gotten gains.

Yes, I'll be getting a Droid too.

Well, Apple actually refunded my money. However, they did make it a point to let me know in their complicated email: +"Please note that this is a one-time exception to our sales policy."+ Wow, thank you Apple!!!!!!! I'm so glad you could help me out this one-time only.

The rest of the email is a joke. They told me my account has been disabled and I would have to email back with answers to a few questions. Funny, but I got right into my account this morning without a problem.

I'm done with iTunes. No iPhone, iPad or iAnything for me ever again.

My iTunes account was hacked on 07/03/2010 and they stole my credit card information and used it to purchase $2700 worth of stuff.. I know it was because of iTunes because I don't use my credit card for anything else.. Dirtbags. From all your responses I don't think I will be getting anywhere with itunes so I am cancelling my account and never wasting a dime on it again!

My iTunes account was hacked on 07/03/2010 and they stole my credit card information and used it to purchase $2700 worth of stuff..

When viewing iTunes account info, the full card number is not accessible.
If all the purchases were made through iTunes, then they only got your iTunes password, not your card number.
If purchases were made elsewhere, they did not get your card number from iTunes.
And you have contacted your credit card company to dispute these charges, correct?
After all, that is how you agreed to handle any disputed charges.

I think the media is starting to catch on.

Article today in Fox News online: Attacking the App Store

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/07/06/attacking-the-app-store/?test=late stnews

Chris, I think we are all aware you are the resident AAT/Apple/iphone fanboy from some of your previous responses like, "why would you not want texts to pop up on your phone? You must be hiding something" and other words of wisdom. I understand that my dispute is with the bank and I handled it as such but to say Apple has no responsibility in this is BS. There are many online merchants that have peoples card numbers who don't get hacked! Apple obviously has a flaw in there itunes security software, and itunes being one of their major cash cows I would think they would want to fix it, it's just good business.
The iphone is not the only game in town anymore, I have defended ATT/Apple for 2 years while dropping calls and having 3 different phones because of crappy service. It is time to take my business elsewhere, which is actually probably good for you and the other fanboys because now you MAY have enough bandwidth to actually make a call.Take off the glasses so you can see clearly!!

Chris, I think we are all aware you are the resident AAT/Apple/iphone fanboy

Really? I was not aware of that. I don't even have an iPhone or AT&T.

from some of your previous responses like, "why would you not want texts to pop up on your phone? You must be hiding something"

Did I write that? Can you post a link because I don't remember.

but to say Apple has no responsibility in this is BS.

Where did I write that Apple has no responsibility?

There are many online merchants that have peoples card numbers who don't get hacked! Apple obviously has a flaw in there itunes security software

I doubt very much it was hacked. Most likely it was use of poor password and such though Apple could probably do a better job of securing access to the account.

and itunes being one of their major cash cows I would think they would want to fix it, it's just good business.

Agreed.

I have defended ATT/Apple for 2 years while dropping calls and having 3 different phones because of crappy service

Okay. I haven't defended them because I don't and have not had an iPhone or AT&T so I can't comment too much on it.

If someone had your CC number and charged to someplace you never heard of, would you contact them for a refund? No, you'd call your CC company.

It is time to take my business elsewhere

Okay. Good luck!

My iTunes account was hacked today for an amount of $126 total of just apps, I tried to get ahold of someone in Apple for Customer Service and they do not have a live person to help you, all they tell you to do is to go to apple.com/support and write them an email & maybe in 48 hrs you might get a worthless respond and not get your money back. My thought is why does a million dollar company only have live people to answer your call for sales and not for actual customer/billing services? I don't even have an IPOD at the time. I need to get to the bottom of this, and get something done about this issue!

I was using the free wifi at the Incheon Airport in Korea. Simultaneously with my use of the free wifi, 6 purchases were made on my itunes account, for music and videos. Most of the music appeared to have Vietnamese titles. I have never answered any phishing email or anything like that. I suspect that the sharing feature that i used with itunes at home was being utilized somehow to access my account. I had itunes on while logged on to the wifi, but was not actively using it at the time. I did notice that I could see the songlists of two other computers while on the wifi in the shared folder.

I called Apple on Skype and they were not very helpful. They tried to show me how to remove my credit card from the account, but it didn't work because I had a pending charge that was rejected by my CC company. I expressed my frustration to the Apple representative who became defensive at that point. I explained that it wasn't personal to her, I was frustrated with Apple for not having a more responsive solution to this problem.

I am posting this hoping that it may help someone figure out what is going on and solve the problem, whether or not they ever admit it is a problem.

I haven't used my itunes account in over 3 months and no one has access to my computer but me. These issues have nothing to do with people leaving themselves logged in. After being hacked, my advice: don't give any credit card information to the itunes store - ever.

I am beginning to agree with you. I noticed that every time I use my credit card, it is left in my account information until I intentionally remove it. So every time I make a purchase, I have to go back into the account and remove my credit card. It's a pain but worth it not to get hacked. Has anyone found a way to keep the itunes account from keeping your credit card information by default instead of what I am experiencing?

CrisKin -
No, that's the way it works.