Interesting reports of Xbox Live hackings have been trickling in on the internet for the past couple of week or so, with users reporting that purchases are showing up on the credit card attached to their Xbox Live account. While the occasional isolated hack-report is expected, some believe a pattern is emerging, and a widespread security flaw is becoming evident.
Many of the gamers reporting hacks say that FIFA Soccer 11 or 12 has been played on their account, even though they don't own the game, leading to the speculation that there's some FIFA-specific hack going on.
Microsoft is denying they have any evidence of widespread Live compromise, issuing a statement saying:
“We do not have any evidence the Xbox LIVE service has been compromised. We take the security of our service seriously and work on an ongoing basis to improve it against evolving threats. However, a limited number of members have contacted us regarding unauthorized access to their accounts by outside individuals. We are working with our impacted members directly to resolve any unauthorized changes to their accounts. As always, we highly recommend our members follow the Xbox LIVE Account Security guidance provided at www.xbox.com/security to protect your account.”
Are we looking at a case of internet-connect-the-dots, where a series of random occurrences are seen as a pattern? (IE: FIFA is a popular game all over the world; it could be simple coincidence that the game is downloaded on lots of "traditionally hacked" accounts.)? Electronic Arts, has said, basically, that this is the case.
“With the popularity of FIFA globally, and the sheer number of players playing the game online, FIFA is an obvious target for phishers and frauds,” an Electronic Arts told Giant Bomb.
“It’s not a title-specific issue and is coincidental that FIFA has been tied to a number of compromised accounts,” a Microsoft representative said.
While both EA and Microsoft saying "coincidence!" is the best we can report, we'll keep an eye on this issue as (or if) it develops further. Until then, keep track of your passwords, purchases and logins and be safe out there.
Sources:Giant Bomb. Ars Technica, Gamespot
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Solid_Snake_Wato
I like how xbox fan say that the PSN hacking is worse. IT WAS NOT. some people say they lost up to if not More than $100 worth of MS points that pretty bad i didnt lose a penny when the PSN got hack. So i could not go online for a Month big deal no skin off my back. and then they say the there is not evidence to prove they have been hacked that sounds like M$ is in hiding something to me they have a lot to lose if this turn out to be true. More then Sony because everyone think they are safer when they have to pay to play.you can play on A PC and way safer if you have a good Firewall and protection. an the 93,000 that got hack where dorment accounts and it was cought and Sony informed the public ASAP. I dont believe M$ bull For one minute.
CFenix
I don't use XBL anymore, but when I did, this is exactly why I chose not to use my credit card to make purchases. Codes from the store are much safer
Boomstick_PMS
Let me tell you all how I am sure that this is a hacking issue and not a "naive user" issue. I have had an Xbox live account since the Xbox Live Beta ended - that's about 10 years. I have never accidentally entered my password in somewhere, shared it, clicked a compromising email, or used an easily hacked password.... thus why I have never been hacked in that span of many years. Then after all this time - out of the blue - I get "compromised" and coincidently (according to Xbox) have the same case of FIFA being the last played game (which I don't own) as all these other people that are coming forward.
jediapprentice
Hopefully this shuts the fanboys up.
roxorz14
Like hell this is a coincidence. I've never owned a FIFA game in my life and suddenly today I have two unlocked achievements and 10,000 MS points charged to my credit card. This is on EA and they need to get their stuff together
TheBRADLeyB
I suppose this could be just a random glitch.
I got an e-mail the other day (the tenth) that said my credit card was successfully charged for another year of XBL. (which I wish I had been reminded because I would have gotten a card to renew it since that card's bank account is low) but I've checked it everyday since then and I've still not received a charge on it. (and the CC Info was correct I believe)
But until I actually see something that would be a real hack of XBL, I'm not going to count this as an XBL hack. (I am a lover of XBL but I'm not worried about their security either, and I do admit it isn't perfect)
SonyNmbrOneGuy
Reminds me of that time Adam said "This is why I pay for XBL".
Tell me, how many times have anyone of you randomly entered your Live password to some shady site or given money to the Prince of Nigeria? How many of you use all zeros for your password, or the word "password" for your password?
Don't listen to the Xbots and continue to call it phishing. I'm calling it a warning to remove all credit info and your trust that MS won't allow hackers to have sex with your credit.
Everything gets hacked. How else would you explain how broken this site is at times?
RxSkyline
How can people say at least Sony came out admitting that they had been breached right away, no they did not? It was sometime before they open up to any of that information. And then once it got worse they did state that they had been breached and then shut down their servers. At the very least Microsoft is willing to give any money back that wasn't spent by the usual account holder. People seem to forget the begging of things and only remember the ending parts of how Sony being breached happened. It goes both ways guys. For both Company's. Both have been hacked at one point in time.
MikeHikoshima
This is just nonsense....I mean Microsoft is still better, saying they haven't been hacked TWICE like the psn.
Baj
My hotmail account was recently just hacked. But didn't have any signs of tampering on Xbox Live. They changed my password, possibly the secret question, and they linked their email to my account so if I changed anything they'd receive the notification. So happy, I at least had my cell phone linked to my account to recover it.
TheRedBaron1157
I agree lucidity..............
xrideordie987x
And and and this is almost exactly what happened on psn the only Dif is when Sony found out they admitted they we're hacked and shut it down to prevent more ppls info being taken
xrideordie987x
And I thought psn was just garbage and xbl couldn't be hacked??? All I have to say to is Hahahahahahahahand a big ol F *#$ YOU MICROSOFT HAHA
NightRaider9
I was actually one of these people. Someone got on my account and used my Card to purchase FIFA Content, which I didn't even own. I haven't played an EA Sports game since '08 I think.
They stole 6000 Points worth too, that's around $80 I think. Which is insane... But I got LIVE Support to help me out, and they got me my money back. It took a month, but I at least didn't have my account banned, or wasn't able to get the money back.
But anyways, this wasn't sheer coincidence. I'm a highly security conscious person. My passwords are always random, and I change them allot. I've never received phishing e-mails, and I'm always accurate when making sure URL's are right. (I'm not saying I'm hack proof of course, but its rare that I'd do something stupid with my info. I get phishing e-mails from Blizzard impersonators all the time because I play WoW.) I also have up-to-date AVG and Firewalls. I keep amazing care of my Alienware.
What happened to me had to have been over LIVE more-so than via my Computer. I was playing Rainbow Six Vegas 2 for a couple of hours, and then left the house. I have played on servers with potential moders, a few of them I know were do to game physics, none of which I wanted to play on. 10 minutes later my account was hacked and Points were purchased.
I'm not sure what happened, but all I know is, I wasn't just a easy and random slump to pick on.
Masterluchief521
I was charged for microsoft points a while back, maybe in july, and they gave me my money back. I also took the card i had attached to my account out already, so it doesnt happen again.
Elijah13
I'm actually quit proud of people. I didn't see as many fanboy posts saying how ps3 is better or vise versa. Maybe people are maturing?? :D
EItherway this doesn't affect me much. I just hope anyone with a compromised account can get it fixed.
ninenightmares
Got to be careful now, all this new age crime to us innocent gamers, JERKS!
lucidity
"UPDATE: Microsoft has told Eurogamer that it's aware of a few incidents of "unauthorised access" and is working with the relevant individuals to remedy the situation."
http://www.eurogamer.net/art icles/2011-10-14-xbl-accounts- hacked-to-buy-fifa-packs
So these (what constitutes a few) 4 ppl is a "major issue" according to the PS3 fanboys.
What then was last weeks 93,000 over at Sony.
JeeshusChrist
This is legit over MLG weekend in July 30th my account got hacked, they changed my security question, my password and charged $130 of microsoft points on my account. I also had FIFA on my recent games and I don't even own, play or like sports game. I had to cancel my card and reset everything. Microsoft opened an investigation but still haven't told me the results. But my bank opened an investigation and supported my claim so they gave me my money back which is good.
WW2BUFF157
a guy a subcribe to on youtube posted a video of a message from sony on his ps3 saying some thing about account being hacked
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