Hotmail passwords leaked online

According to Neowin, it received information from a source claiming that a "hack or phishing scheme" allowed hackers to post passwords from thousands of Hotmail accounts.

Neowin first viewed the passwords on a developer forum on Pastebin.com. The posting was added to the site on October 1. According to Neowin, it saw "part" of the posted list and "can confirm the accounts are genuine and most appear to be based in Europe."

Although it was unsure how many accounts were hacked, the original list displays accounts with names starting with "A" and "B." It included users with @hotmail.com, @msn.com, and @live.com domains, the publication claimed.

Although Microsoft has yet to confirm the existence of the list or a breach of security, the company told BBC News on Monday that it knows about the claim and is working to determine whether it is accurate.

"We're actively investigating the situation and will take appropriate steps as rapidly as possible," the Microsoft representative told BBC News.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.

Whether the passwords were leaked is still in question. That said, Twitter and other social networks are abuzzwith people advising others to change their passwords.