[MSM Hobbes]

Evidently, 60 some accounts have been compromised at Gmail - all emails w/in these accounts were 'lost'. One thought is that there was/is a flaw w/in Firefox that allowed XXS to manipulate and then cause harm. While only a very small fraction of Gmail users, this does bring to light at least two points:

1. If it is important to you, backup your email via whatever method you so desire.
2. Technology, time, and evilness in the wrong hands can mess up the 'best' systems; ie: Firefox browser and/or Google's Gmail.

Check out the following...
semi-fresh news items:
http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2006/mfsa2006-72.html
http://gigaom.com/2006/12/28/mom-google-ate-my-gmail/
http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/security/news/article.php/3652186

older yet potentially relevant [XXS type issue] news:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/29/gmail_vuln/
,,,which was supposedly fixed immediately thereafter:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/01/gmail_bug_fixed/

Gmail forum w/ people affected:
http://groups.google.com/group/Gmai...read/thread/e19d6ab5d41e58eb/bd2a9386c2a1ad41

Potential to 'hack' into a Gmail type account via an invite:
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/can_people_hack_my_google_gmail_account.html
,,, and via other underhanded means:
http://www.somewhatfrank.com/2005/11/gmail_hacked_it.html

And now, means to backup/store Gmail goods:
http://grasshopperfactory.com/cbc/back-up-your-gmail/