230°

Dear Microsoft, Please Plug These Holes

Over the past several months Xbox Live accounts (including mine) have been getting hacked en masse. Once the hacker has taken control of the victim’s account, they’re buying up as many Microsoft Points as they can, and spending them all on in game currency for FIFA 11 or FIFA 12. Then, from within their FIFA game of choice, the hacker buys up items for FIFA Ultimate Team, and presumably sends those items off to their personal XBL account.

This article provides two simple solutions MS should absolutely be using to protect its users from hackers.

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whatthegeek.net
MultiConsoleGamer4583d ago

"hacked en masse."

That's funny, I haven't heard anything about this. Can you provide any additional proof of this mass hacking, I mean aside from your own personal experience? This story has piqued my interest.

MultiConsoleGamer4583d ago (Edited 4583d ago )

Wow, that is insane! I guess I haven't heard about this because I don't play FIFA, at least not recently.

Hackers, this is why we can't have nice things.

whatthegeek4583d ago

haha, yea, the best part is that MS and EA have both taken a "move along, nothing to see here" stance on the issue.

Series_IIa4583d ago (Edited 4583d ago )

keep going please 4 links isn't "en masse" they are isolated cases...

- It isn't my job to Google it, I want you to provide "en masse" links to forums of hundreds of people being effected, phishing isn't new, most of them said their passwords needed to be reset from too many password attempts, hackers don't need to guess passwords.

whatthegeek4583d ago

@Series_IIa

http://www.xblafans.com/xbo...

http://www.giantbomb.com/xb...

http://www.thebitbag.com/20...

http://www.joystiq.com/2011...

Read the comments on any of 'em, and you'll start to see a pattern emerge. If you're still not satisfied, Google it yourself.

dead_eye4583d ago

@Series_lla lol well said.

Does sound more like phishing to me.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4583d ago
tickticktick4583d ago (Edited 4583d ago )

http://n4g.com/news/865812/...

Xbox Live is still hack free, keep trying.

Don't give your password to anyone and don't type it into some random websites promising MS points.

narutogameking4583d ago

That's funny I've seen at least 3-4 articles of hackings in the last month.

(Funny thing is no articles on PSN hackings, ironic huh?)

WhiteLightning4583d ago

LOL no articles on the PSN hacking

WOW.....just wow

You were etheir away from this site for over a month, blind or just a fanboy.

There were tons of PSN hacking articles, it's what was always on this site during it's down time....they were still popping up during the aftermath

duplissi4581d ago

well it happened to me... just got my nearly 200 dollars refunded today. and it was fifa 12

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4581d ago
3GenGames4583d ago (Edited 4583d ago )

Start with IE please, as it sucks to work with at all as a developer as it follows no standards and is just a giant turd.

whatthegeek4583d ago

There's no saving IE - they need to light it on fire, roll it down a hill, and start over.

3GenGames4583d ago

That's true, kinda like Mozilla did with...well, Mozilla.

DragonKnight4583d ago

Hackers have to be the cheapest, laziest bunch of losers in the world. Here are people with the skills to get great jobs somewhere in the world, and instead of using those skills for something productive, they have to make people's lives miserable by stealing money from them for video game crap. Seriously? You're telling me that you can spend money on an expensive computer that you use to hack, but you can't spare a few bucks for a game and some DLC? *sigh* Hackers are talented morons.

dark-hollow4583d ago

Aren't the people here in n4g hate hackers???
Because it looks like some are happy that the psn has been hacked and others want XBL to get hacked /:

DragonKnight4583d ago

It's trolling fanboyism. When PSN was hacked, so many trolls from the opposite camp that always love to plunge on Sony were quick to say "hurr durr, you get what you pay for, derp" and blamed Sony for the hack. So, trolling fanboys from the Sony side said that paying for Live doesn't mean protection from being hacked, as hackers can get into anything, and they wished it upon the 360 fanboys.

Now Live accounts have been hacked, and you can bet that there are people ready and willing to say "hurr durr, i thought Live couldn't get hacked because you pay for it. derp" and the B.S. will just flame up from there.

gamingdroid4583d ago

Hacking doesn't necessarily take skill at all. In many cases, phising is mistaken for hacking to boot. Some even go as far as claiming all hacking is bad, but reality is that there are many shades of grey.

Just like anything, things can be used for good or bad.

Ethereal4583d ago

These things happen all the time. Keep an eye peeled on your stuff people. Sony is not the only one this stuff happens too.

Noticeably_FAT4583d ago

Nobody hacks people on XBL, if anything it's phishing that is a problem, which if that is the case, don't be stupid where you put in your passwords.

Been a XBL user for almost six years and I've never had any issues.

whatthegeek4583d ago

One out of 15 million certainly proves that the service is completely secure and unhackable. Just out of curiosity, are you also a lottery winner?

All joking aside, it's great that you haven't had any problems, but a lot of other people (including myself) have. I can't speak for everyone effected, but I didn't fall for a phishing scam, nor did my PC get compromised by spyware - someone found another way in.

3GenGames4583d ago

Nobody hacks, it's left in the game and activated by changing the save file, not the actual program.

gamingdroid4583d ago (Edited 4583d ago )

Did you use the same password on multiple sites?

There is also reports this has to do with EA servers.

That said, there are million ways into an account that doesn't mean security is compromised including re-use of passwords on multiple sites, weak passwords, passwords that is related to you in some way (i.e. your birthdate) and so on.

Heck just visiting another site can enable them to hijack your logged in session giving them the ability to fully control your account.

Show all comments (31)
160°

OG Xbox Live Replacement 'Insignia' Continues To Grow With 11 New Supported Games

Online multiplayer is back for 11 more games thanks to Insignia's XBL 1.0 replacement service running on Original Xbox consoles and the Xemu emulator on PC. Multiplayer, voice chat, leaderboards, etc. have been a monthly addition for many games from Xbox's past library thank to the team at Insignia.live! The 11 new games are now playable online once again after 13+ years.

Read Full Story >>
purexbox.com
XiNatsuDragnel414d ago

Yes yes now bring x360 xbox live then we're golden for life.

Asplundh412d ago

?? Xbox 360 servers are still online, they haven't been taken down yet.

XiNatsuDragnel412d ago

Nah they will be tho look at rscs3 they have psn made in there emulator why not xenia bro?

Blashted412d ago

Service still in beta form, sign up/player counts here: https://insignia.live/

slayereddy412d ago (Edited 412d ago )

Booo!! I was hoping that was Rainbow Six: Black Arrow...Boo!! again. I thought this coming to Xbox. I don't even read it I was so excited.

210°

Minecraft on Nintendo Switch gets Xbox Live Achievements and Gamerscore

One of the most popular versions of the title is available on Nintendo Switch and it just got even better. The Bedrock version of Minecraft just released for Nintendo Switch, both digitally on the Nintendo eShop and as a physical release.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
Aceman182140d ago

And here's why Sony not doing it yet lol.

rainslacker2140d ago

People are disagreeing with you, but you have a point. Why would Sony want people to get any kind of investment through a competing ecosystem.

I don't think it's their biggest reason for not doing cross play, but obviously, they probably wouldn't be too keen on such a thing.

gamer78042139d ago

Other games devs that want crossplay wouldn't have achievements. Th. Answer has already been revealed as a monetary decision

Eonjay2139d ago

@gamer
Yes its always about mon edy, for both. Nothing else.

Sharky2312139d ago

I think at first everybody was in agreement and then MS dropped a money figure. Sony probably felt that it was unreasonable because they have the bigger install base. Nintendo needed this to happen so they jumped right in. That’s just my opinion I could be wrong!

rainslacker2139d ago

@gamer

True, but at the same time, allowing cross play opens up these kinds of doors. If the two companies talked about it as some point, then they both had their own needs for it to go forward. I doubt either of them just outright denied the other to be a dick about it. But I can easily see that the things one company asked for not being acceptable to the other, and as it stands, we don't know what was asked for, by who, or who couldn't agree with such demands. For all we know, Sony had some demand that MS couldn't accept.

But Eonjay is right. Money will have a lot to do with it....although I doubt any exchange of money would need to take place. But on the back end, Sony, or even MS, may have felt the potential loss to their own brand didn't outweigh the benefits to their consumer.

@Sharky

I couldn't say with Nintendo. I have this feeling they don't really know where they want to go with their online. I don't see cross play with Switch really benefiting or hurting their system, because I don't really think Nintendo's main focus is online gaming to such a high degree to begin with. Nintendo is just starting up their online service, and I feel it's going to go through some growing pains. I hope that what they're doing works out for them, and if anything, maybe between them and MS, they'll show that cross play isn't going to be an issue no matter how it plays out.

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2140d ago Replies(2)
porkChop2140d ago

This is the only game that does this. And that's because it's published by Microsoft and uses Xbox Live as its online platform. None of the other cross play games do this.

2139d ago
Vrabstin2140d ago

The overwhelming disagrees to people providing remarks that are more than just opinion but are actually true is just sad. I'm sorry I mean pathetic. It would not be a good idea for Sony to do this same thing.

SuperSonic912140d ago

Blunder Twins power activate!
Phil and Reggie!
Ew!

2139d ago
G3ng4r2139d ago

Nintendo doesn't mind the online help I'm sure. Also sure ps4 base would keep their trophy system.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2139d ago
badz1492140d ago

Wow...nice job MS. Invading the Switch now, are we?

Prince_TFK2140d ago

It’s call cooperation? Not that Sony knows anything about it though.

King_Lothric2140d ago

It is called the weakest systems trying to survive. Not that Sony knows anything about it.

Prince_TFK2140d ago

Are you saying that the Switch and the X1 are dying?

Eonjay2140d ago

Sony is under no obligation to host the competitors ecosystem on it's own paid service. At all. They don't owe you anything. You are not entitled to PSN.

mcstorm2139d ago

King_Lothric do you remember a console called the PlayStation Vita? Oooo I guess that's not counted because it sold poor and had no support at all from Sony?

Come on Sony have messed up a few times some times it hurts them others it dose not. VR was the next big thing and we are still waiting with less and less games adapting vr.
Move ps eye also devices that have slid back into the shadows. All 3 have made mistakes this gen and all 3 are trying to put them right.
Cross play though is one Sony need to out right. Why should everyone not be able to play each other no matter the console if you own the same game for me this is kind of where Sony have a 1up and one down on Microsoft as if they open it up to work with everyone else they have the exclusives locked up at the moment so more reason for people to cross play on a PS4 over the other two but psn is still not as good as live and online play is better on the xbox. That makes it an interesting battle as for the switch well Nintendo have a lot of catching up to do online side but Nintendo gamers do like Nintendo games and if games like fortnight, Minecraft and more are cross play on it the better for Nintendo.

For me ide just love to be able to play my ps or switch friends from my Xbox or when our and about from my switch and pickup from where I left off to. Times have moved on it should not be a closed system anymore for gaming no matter th IP or console.

Dragonscale2139d ago

@kun, its called common sense fgs. The last thing sony needs is any form of 'cooperation' with ms and xbox.

Prince_TFK2139d ago (Edited 2139d ago )

@dragonscale

Yeah and Sony can keep being all high and mighty as much as they want. Pretty soon they will be the odd man out and the only one who can’t play nice with others.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2139d ago
2140d ago
aconnellan2139d ago

“Invading the switch now, are we?”

Yeah, I’m sure this was a shady move that Nintendo had no hand in, or knowledge of, before it actually happened. It’s really a clever ruse so MS can have more people getting achievements. Curse them! Next thing you know, Switch players will be forced to by an Xbox in order to verify Minecraft on their Switch! Diabolical!

/s

letsa_go2139d ago

I guarantee Microsoft will add these numbers into their xbox live engagement statistics! 100 million creepers exploded through xbox live on switch and xbox one!

badz1492139d ago

Stay tune for NPD reports next month

Cheesetoenails2139d ago (Edited 2139d ago )

invading..hahahahahahaha enjoy your CLOSED ecosystem then. Cooperation is now a bad thing?

its so amazing that when they "accidentally" allowed cross play on another game there was no outrage from Sony fans.

rainslacker2139d ago (Edited 2139d ago )

Hate to break it to you, but XBL is a closed ecosystem. MS wants nothing more than to make their ecosystem as closed as possible. This achievement thing just brings them more users, which is what they want. It works out for the gamer, but it's not like they're doing it because they're amazingly altruistic.

Personally, I'd rather that Nintendo just make their own achievement system. That's something they are way behind on, and there is no reason not to have it. I'd imagine more people would care about that than they'd care about playing minecraft with Xbox players. But to date, we haven't seen a lot of Switch players caring about achievements either....so take that for what it's worth.

thexmanone2139d ago

They own Minecraft, why not

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2139d ago
Ninte2140d ago

Wow! First the minecraft play together video, then twitter and now this. What's next?

Kabaneri2140d ago (Edited 2140d ago )

Drake plays crossplay Minecraft with Ninja on Switch.

King_Lothric2140d ago

I don't want any intrusive Xbox stuff on my Playstation ecosystem. I understand that when you are surviving in the market you need to do things you may not like to survive. Sony is not on this position so it doesn't need to help the competition to survive.

porkChop2140d ago

Achievements and gamerscore are no more intrusive than trophies and levels on PS. It's the same system, just with different branding. Not liking the idea of having Xbox stuff is fine, I do personally think it's a little weird, but I wouldn't say it's intrusive.

Kingthrash3602140d ago

It exposes your userbase to the competition. It shows what the true plan is

Dragonscale2139d ago

No thanks pork. Don't want anything xbox related on my PlayStation account fgs.

aconnellan2139d ago

@Kingthrash

*achievement pops on PlayStation version of Minecraft, notifies Microsoft headquarters*

“Mr Spencer, we did it! We finally got achievements to come up on PS games!”

“Great work! Now remind me again... what does this actually get us?”

“... I’ll have to double check our ‘clever ruse’ manual and get back to you, because I really don’t know”

Tell me. What is their ‘true plan’?

porkChop2139d ago

@Dragonscale

Did you read all of my comment? I agree it's weird, I don't want it either. I just don't think it's "intrusive". It works the same way as PS trophies do.

rainslacker2139d ago

@aconnellan

What does it get MS? It gets them direct access to Nintendo's user base. They now have a email address of a Nintendo user. MS can, and likely will, send out marketing directly to those people, circumventing every compliance standard in place in how 3rd party publishers are allowed to contact said systems user base. I'm almost positive this is why Sony wouldn't allow it on PSN, despite not disallowing 3rd party accounts.

On top of that, it gets them yet another MAU. Something that's very important to MS, because that's what they're using to report to investors on their future potential, and current standings. That means that the bigger the numbers go, the more their stocks are worth. Hence, more money to work with.

Beyond that, it gets people invested in their ecosystem in some way. That's good for MS, not so good for Nintendo if people decide to move over to Xbox for some reason.

This whole thing seems like it's much more beneficial for MS than it is Nintendo. I'm not really sure what Nintendo is getting out of it, and seems like a lot to risk just to have one game with cross play to have some good PR and a way to promote their own online service.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2139d ago
DwightSchrute012140d ago (Edited 2140d ago )

The competition are surviving just fine. Every sony fan acts like they got 80 million users over night. It's taken years for them to get to that number and if switch came out decades ago at the same time it would have the same user base or more by now. Sony fanboys like to selectively forget this fact though

XabiDaChosenOne2139d ago

It took Sony a little more than four years to get to this point not "decades" and the WiiU released an entire year before the PS4 and it isat 1/8th of the sales what's your excuse for that?

DwightSchrute012139d ago

@XsbiDaChosenOne Wii U an d the switch are 2 different consoles. Any idiot can see that. Was the Wii U marketed as well as the switch Is? Could you play the Wii U on the go? Did the Wii U have as much 3rd party support as the switch. No.

Another selective with information sony fanboy.

DialgaMarine2139d ago (Edited 2139d ago )

Wii U had better third party support than Switch. Wii U had CoD, AC, ME, Aliens, Darksiders, Far Cry, and Madden. Had these games not sold so poorly, Wii U would’ve at least continued to see installments of those. Switch only really gets third party support through Bethesda, Japanese titles, and a couple sports franchise. It’s basically missing everything else.

PS4 is doing better than you think. 3DS launches 2 1/2 years before PS4, and PS4 still outsold 3DS before hitting its 4 year anniversary.

microgenius2140d ago (Edited 2140d ago )

A console without exclusive tied with a mini console without 3rd party and still beaten by THE KING
Losers are trying their best to gain a little momentum
just make games instead of this ridiculous gimmicky features

Cheesetoenails2139d ago

which has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Show all comments (71)
190°

7 Abandoned Xbox Series We Probably Won't Get Back

Has everyone completely forgotten Blinx?

Read Full Story >>
twinfinite.net
WickedLester2519d ago

You forgot to add "thank God" at the end of the headline.

tomr29922519d ago

Indeed... Praise the Lord!

V0MIT_M0NSTER2519d ago

So glad that they won't mess with Banjo anymore.

-Foxtrot2518d ago

So you wouldn't want a proper Banjo-Threeie, Jade Empire or Kameo 2...really?

AZRoboto2518d ago

Or Crimson Skies. That was the shiz

FallenAngel19842519d ago

It's a shame we can't get another Banjo-Kazooie game

-Foxtrot2518d ago

Literally one that's called Banjo-Threeie and they start the game with Kazooie waking up in distress telling Banjo of a hardly nightmare while recapping Nuts and Bolts.

PhoenixUp2519d ago

Microsoft never could maintain a longrunning decent 3D platformers series of their own

AZRoboto2518d ago

I don't think "longrunning" is really necessary... Isn't Blinx the only one that got a sequel?

darthv722518d ago

Blinx needs to return if at least to show up Bubsy.

ninsigma2518d ago

Not sure if it was Xbox only back in the day but I'd love a current gen jet set radio!

Paytaa2518d ago

Jet Set Radio Future was only on Xbox. Fantastic game. Even better than Jet Set Radio for the Dreamcast in my opinion. Such a good soundtrack too

ninsigma2518d ago

Game was beast and deserves to come back on current gen. And hell yeah plus one for that soundtrack!

Show all comments (19)