It only takes one guy to hack into a server, and it happens daily. Kotaku just loves posting this sensational crap to get page clicks.
Simple rules to online safety:
- Tiered passwords: the more sensitive the data on the account, the stronger the password. Come up with a convention instead of a word; for example: take the site name (gtplanet) and type it using the keys to the right of the letter you want, and then adding your favorite number (hy[;smry42).
- Don't give them your real birthday and last name, instead change a letter or number in each; that's just enough obfuscation to avoid identity theft.
Then whenever a web site gets hacked you'll see it as uninteresting unless the hackers deface it, in which case it might be highly amusing.
