I rarely log in to my LinkedIn account. However recently, I’ve had several friends get interviews and even jobs by using it’s service. That to me says something about having an up-to-date account. Although I’m not exactly in the hunt, I decided to update my information anyway because you just never know.

When I logged in last week to do so, I panicked.

My LinkedIn account was breached by what looks to be some teenage hacker. Even worse than obtaining my banking information and selling it to criminals, this person sent my resume all around the world.

Wait… isn’t that be a good thing? The phrase “malicious attack” seems a bit harsh for someone actually doing me a favor.

OK, so my account really wasn’t compromised but we all should be aware of the fact that LinkedIn believes it is under attack. Their website now incorporates a security feature that ensures the person logging in is actually human and not some malicious computer program.

If for some reason a person is illiterate and can not read the letters on the screen, LinkedIn kindly provides a speaker icon which links to an audio clip of the letters. Seriously? At that point, LinkedIn is not going to save you. Would you sign up for a marathon, not train, and then think a big bowl of pasta the night before is going to be your life preserver? The comprehension of the alphabet should be a prerequisite for an account. I digress.

Even with this added security, is a hacked LinkedIn account really that dangerous?

Let’s say these hackers somehow breach my account and access all of my information. Scary thought, but it’s public. The whole point of LinkedIn is to get your information to the masses. This to me eliminates any need to really protect an account with means other than the typical password method used by other important services such as bank accounts and credit cards.

At the end of the day, it is a simple annoyance that is not going to stop me from using the site.

It does however make me laugh, knowing that there are people who waste their time trying to breach a website that is an excellent service for getting a job.

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