Xbox Live director of policy and enforcement Stephen "Stepto" Toulouse has both the best and worst job on earth. On the good side, he's a big time, important guy at Xbox Live, so he probably makes a ton of dough, plus, he can ban anyone he wants. But on the negative side, Stepto has to deal with gamers with grudges, some of whom take it way beyond a nasty email or two.
Recently, Stepto's blog and Xbox Live account were compromised by someone named "Predator," who gained access through social engineering. Basically, he sweet-talked passwords out of someone at Stepto's hosting company, not exactly "hacking" in the classic sense, but the result is the same.
Predator said his motivation is altruistic:
"I'm simply letting them know I'm willing to help them secure accounts from future hackers...All accounts are open for hacking," Predator explained.
Wow, Predator is a great humanitarian; no one who calls himself that would be preying on people, right? But seriously, Stephen Toulouse doesn't believe Predator is "helping" any more than I do. He has a bit of a history with this hacker. He says the hacker has called his voicemail and left many messages that aren't exactly helpful. From an interview with Joystiq: "I have a six minute one where he and his friend discuss all the different ways they're gonna have sex with my wife," Toulouse said.
Stepto also got in a great dig at Predator and "hackers" of his ilk, saying: "What these kids try and do is, all day long, they try and get my account or someone's account who's popular or prominent. We're talking like hours and hours and hours of phone calls and trading tips and tricks on forums. It's quite humorous sometimes to watch." In other words: Get a life, ya basement dwellers; when paying attention at all, real people are laughing at you.
Toulouse follows up with some serious consequences, "What he did, from a lot of people's point of view, I think, is a crime, and we're going to be investigating that," he said.
As much as I usually, instinctively, dislike anyone who's even remotely an authority figure, I interviewed Toulouse not long ago, and he's a stand-up guy who's humble, funny, and has a very difficult job. So big ups to Stepto for handling a difficult situation with class. That having been said: Change your passwords a lot.
All of the best people are following Steve Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
Comments
Displaying 1–16 of 16
Ckyline
Don't ban me bro!
Sharmote
I hope this little turd gets in big trouble for this. What he did wasn't "hacking" it was social engineering. So easy a caveman can do it. He is nothing but a script kiddie pissed that he cannot use mods to beat people on XBL.
Stepto and everyone at XBL, have a good laugh at this morons expense.
redsauceonpasta
I think the modding and banning concepts conflict for all the wrong reasons. If it weren't for k/d and leaderboards, would anyone really care? I wouldn't have to download mods if they would include cheats and developer tools to extend the fun of the game. Why would anyone care if you mod Nazi Zombies to have infinite ammo or god mode? I think the cheat should be available both off and online, because the leaderboards are ultimately all hacked anyway. I understand the need to keep hacks off of online competitive play, but if nobody was out there keeping score would you care if somebody was messing around with their JTAG? I just don't necessarily think any company has a right to tell us how to use a product that we purchase.
Warrior567
im glad this guy got hacked. xbl doesnt do anything when regular peoples accounts are hacked. they are too busy looking for minor violations of the terms of use (the pro) rather than trying to stop hackers. i only support hackers when they hack the people in charge who aren't doing their job. if this guy had serious insight as to how hackers were doing what they do, it is stupid that this guy didn't take the advice. maybe attacks like this, while illegal, will send a message that xbl policy enforcement isn't doing their job
zobocho
the kid broke laws, he's on youtube telling the world about breaking the law, the kid will pay the price and stepto will get the last laugh. don't be such a dumb "hacker" next time kid.
DPsx72
360 sucks, no big loss no matter what happens.
etooley7845
"I have a six minute [message] where he and his friend discuss all the different ways they're gonna have sex with my wife," Toulouse said
hahahahahahhaha!!!
CLFresh
"In other words: Get a life, ya basement dwellers; when paying attention at all, real people are laughing at you."
lol This is what I miss about G4, Mr. Johnson (to think I used to hate his writings). You almost make me want to come back and check G4 regularly.
CareyGrant
I'm no lawyer or member of law enforcement, but harassing phone calls about how you're going to sexually assault someone's wife is, in my laymen's opinion, grounds for legal action.
cwbys21
So, did the dude call the police about all the phone calls he was getting from that guy? It sounds like he has easily given the police enough reasons to lock him up for a while.
LtCmdrChar
I'm loving the people on Predator's youtube page that say how they hate Stepto for banning all their consoles for no reason. Then I look on their youtube page and see how those people favorite or post videos on how to mod games in your favor.
loyaltrekie
Maybe now he'll step up and start doing his job and banning all the 12 year olds with penis as their gamer tag ; and swastika's as their pictures.
JustTheBeginning
Hackers try to say they are so innocent but in reality, most are complete jerks that cant live in real society, even though they could be working for the people they desperately "hate". I mean really, who leaves a message that talks about screwing a guys wife, that is just sick and perverted.
Wozman23
In the age we live in hacking is getting out of hand. So many hackers claim good intentions, but then publicly release information that destroys a product or person's integrity. I have no problem with someone wanting to privately modify their own property, but once they release their findings and open the doors to malicious attacks, then they've gone too far. Hackers are never collectively going to modify all good things onto a system. That's like giving someone a gun, and being surprised when they shoot someone.
Hacking will never leave, but hopefully we can make an example of these guys with extremely harsh fines and penalties. Death is even acceptable in my eyes.
crocodilius
sounds like "Predator" is an impotent little p@ssy trying to get himself off.
Captain Napkin
lol
Displaying 1–16 of 16
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