Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Second Wind: All Points Bulletin Reloaded]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/second-wind-all-points-bulletin-reloaded/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/second-wind-all-points-bulletin-reloaded/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/second-wind-all-points-bulletin-reloaded/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

APB reloaded screenshot
I could make this a very short piece by saying that APB: Reloaded is simply as fun now as it has ever been. The game is a blast in more ways than one. Heck, I could close it right now by telling you that not only was my return to the game well worth the effort but also that it also served to slap me on the side of the head to say, "Hey, dummy, remember how fun it is to run over people?" I'd rather give you more details, though, especially for those of you who might not have played the game or haven't played it in a long time.

APB: Reloaded is essentially a lobby-based shooter. The lobby -- or social district, as it is called -- and the instanced battle arenas are massive places. While I livestreamed the game last week (you can watch the embedded video after the cut), someone accurately commented that watching it was like watching "GTA Online." I agree, but it's also so much more than that. Join me past the cut and I promise not to run you over.

(EDIT: I was able to order an APB: Reloaded box from Newegg.com for $7.99 USD which contains "over $50 value" like a permanent Magnum gun, a Cisco car, 500 G1 credits and 30 days of premium. I paid no shipping fees at all and received it within three days of ordering, but after this article went live.)

Continue reading Second Wind: All Points Bulletin Reloaded

MassivelySecond Wind: All Points Bulletin Reloaded originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimbotsall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedbeau-hindmancash-shopf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgamersfirsthackersmmofpspost-launchre-reviewsecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windupdated-impressionsFri, 26 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hacking ring infiltrates Trion, Nexon, and Neowiz game servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/hacking-ring-infiltrates-trion-nexon-and-neowiz-game-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/hacking-ring-infiltrates-trion-nexon-and-neowiz-game-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/hacking-ring-infiltrates-trion-nexon-and-neowiz-game-servers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trion logo
A China-based hacking ring has infiltrated servers belonging to "dozens of online video gaming companies and stolen valuable source code over a four-year period," according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The newspaper's website says that Neowiz, Mgame, Nexon, and Trion are among the companies affected. Moscow-based security firm Kaspersky Lab is conducting an ongoing investigation into the hacking ring's activities, but has not been given full access to infected servers. Some game companies reported the presence of malicious software which suggests that the hackers manipulated virtual currencies, according to the Herald.

The group, named Winnti by Kaspersky, began its current campaign in 2009 and is still active today. The Herald reports that Neowiz "did not respond to requests for comment, while Trion and Nexon declined to comment. Mgame said it had no immediate comment."

MassivelyHacking ring infiltrates Trion, Nexon, and Neowiz game servers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackershackingKasperskynexon-hackedsecuritysecurity-breachtrion-hackedwinntiFri, 12 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: The day my Star Trek Online fleet died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/captains-log-the-day-my-star-trek-online-fleet-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/captains-log-the-day-my-star-trek-online-fleet-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/captains-log-the-day-my-star-trek-online-fleet-died/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

STO TOS rommie bird of prey
This week I was looking forward to writing about all of the wonderful stuff coming out about the coming this May in the Legacy of Romulus expansion in Star Trek Online. Unfortunately for me, that subject has been swept under the rug while I write about what happened to my fleet during this past week and expose our failures in order to provide valuable lessons to others.

This week my fleet was "stolen." Everything that we have worked so hard in building over the past 14 months was taken away by one person, a person none of us knows, and we were forced to begin anew. The lessons here are hard, bitter, and frankly embarrassing to discuss, but they are important to learn from, and I hope others use the advice to avoid our fate, regardless of whether you're in a fleet in Star Trek Online or a guild in some other game.

Continue reading Captain's Log: The day my Star Trek Online fleet died

MassivelyCaptain's Log: The day my Star Trek Online fleet died originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-logcaspian-divisioncaspian-risingcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfleet-leaderfleetsfree-to-playhackhackerhackersjupiter-forceopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpriority-onepwesci-fissc-fleetssog-fleetstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoMon, 08 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hammerpoint acknowledges War Z security breach, emails and passwords compromised]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/hammerpoint-acknowledges-war-z-security-breach-emails-and-passw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/hammerpoint-acknowledges-war-z-security-breach-emails-and-passw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/hammerpoint-acknowledges-war-z-security-breach-emails-and-passw/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The War Z - Cleanup workers
Hammerpoint has officially responded to the security issues plaguing its War Z zombie shooter. The firm says that no payment information was accessed in the recent breach, but that email addresses and game and forum passwords have been compromised.
The data accessed included email addresses used to log in to the forum, forum passwords which we encrypt, email addresses used to log in to the game, encrypted game passwords, as well as in-game character names and the IP addresses from which players log in to the forum and to the game. If you posted other information to the forum it is likely that such data was accessed as well. We do not collect the names or addresses of our gamers so that information was not impacted unless you posted it on the forum. We are investigating whether additional information may have been obtained.
Hammerpoint says that it has "engaged outside experts and investigators" and is committing "substantial resources" to improving security. The company encourages The War Z users to change their passwords.

[Thanks to everyone who tipped us!]

MassivelyHammerpoint acknowledges War Z security breach, emails and passwords compromised originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackershammerpointhammerpoint-interactivethe-war-zwar-zwar-z-compromisedwar-z-hackswarzTue, 02 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Smedley slams aimbotters, teases new PlanetSide 2 weapons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/smedley-teases-new-planetside-2-weapons-slams-aimbotters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/smedley-teases-new-planetside-2-weapons-slams-aimbotters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/smedley-teases-new-planetside-2-weapons-slams-aimbotters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 rocket launcher that never works because of flares
SOE president John Smedley lit his Twitter account on fire last night with some pointed comments directed at PlanetSide 2 aimbotters. "Haruhi at artificialaiming.com was just banned. All three of his accounts. Goodbye you scumbag. Find a new hobby or get good at the game," Smedley wrote.

"As they develop hacks we will break the hacks. We have time and great people. Trust that this is a top priority. Hackers will not win," he continued. Smedley also revealed that new weapons are coming to the sci-fi MMOFPS in short order, including anti-vehicle and anti-air variants.

MassivelySmedley slams aimbotters, teases new PlanetSide 2 weapons originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimbotsaimbottingfpshackersjohn-smedleymmo-shootermmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2planetside-2-aimbotps2sandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentWed, 05 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Origin hacked, EA denies intrusion [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/rumor-origin-hacked-ea-denies-intrusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/rumor-origin-hacked-ea-denies-intrusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/rumor-origin-hacked-ea-denies-intrusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rumor Origin hacked, EA denies intrusion
If you have created an EA Origin account for any reason, such as for Star Wars: The Old Republic or Ultima Online, we advise you to change your password posthaste. Numerous sites are reporting that hackers have breached Origin's security and are potentially modifying account information and stealing it.

Allegedly affected players claim that the hackers are changing the log-in emails associated with their accounts and that the new email addresses have a Russian suffix.

In response to a question about whether any accounts were compromised by hacking, an EA spokesperson made the following statement: "At this point, we have no reason to believe there has been any intrusion into our Origin database."

EA has updated us with its full security statement:
Anytime a player has a question about the security of his or her account or personal data, we take it very seriously and take all possible steps to help. For any customer who cannot access their Origin account for any reason, we ask them to please contact Origin Help or EA's customer experience group at help.ea.com. The robust security measures in place to protect Origin users accounts are constantly being expanded and upgraded, and we also strongly recommend customers take the protective steps of using strong passwords and changing passwords often.

MassivelyRumor: Origin hacked, EA denies intrusion [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreachclassic-mmoeaea-originelectronic-artsfantasyhackhackedhackersintrusionlord-britishlucasartsmythicmythic-entertainmentoriginsandboxsci-fisecurity-breachsecurity-intrusionstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorultimaultima onlineuoWed, 14 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard lowers the boom on Diablo III cheaters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/blizzard-lowers-the-boom-on-diablo-iii-cheaters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/blizzard-lowers-the-boom-on-diablo-iii-cheaters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/blizzard-lowers-the-boom-on-diablo-iii-cheaters/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard lowers the boom on Diablo III cheaters
Blizzard's had all it can stands, and it can stands no more. The studio is taking aggressive action against botters and cheaters in Diablo III, reporting that it's gone through "several rounds of account bans" against such players.

The studio also used the ban announcement as an excuse to clarify its position on hacks and third-party software. If you're curious about what steps over the line that Blizzard has in mind, wonder no longer. Beyond allowing some players to get away with an unfair advantage over others, cheat programs reportedly cause instability and performance issues with client software and Battle.net at large.

"We strongly recommend that you avoid using any third-party software which interacts with Diablo III," Blizzard posted, "even if you are accessing that software from a reputable third-party site-as doing so can result in permanent ban from the game."

MassivelyBlizzard lowers the boom on Diablo III cheaters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattle.netbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbotbotsbotterscash-shopcheatcheatercheatersd3daily-grinddiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiiexploitsfantasygothic-fantasyhackhackerhackersmultiplayeronline-multiplayeropinionroguelikerpgtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 09 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hammerpoint delaying The War Z clan features, focusing on hackers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/hammerpoint-delaying-the-war-z-clan-features-focusing-on-hacker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/hammerpoint-delaying-the-war-z-clan-features-focusing-on-hacker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/hammerpoint-delaying-the-war-z-clan-features-focusing-on-hacker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hammerpoint pushing back The War Z clan features, focusing on hackers
The War Z is a hot topic in gaming circles these days, and Hammerpoint's zombie-centric sandbox is starting to see an increase in shady player activity as its user base grows. The dev team has acknowledged the need to devote time and resources to dealing with hackers, and as a result some of the title's feature development is temporarily going on the back burner.

"As I'm sure all of you are aware, there [have] been a lot of discussion lately surrounding the hackers," Hammerpoint wrote on its forums. "Over here we've been working round the clock on a solution -- however, that's meant we've had to push back clans a bit, so it's looking more like next week. We're also investigating a number of bugs, such as the ability to glitch onto roofs, and item duplication."

MassivelyHammerpoint delaying The War Z clan features, focusing on hackers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playhackershackinghackshammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorsandboxshooterthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-clanswar-z-hackingwarzzombiesWed, 07 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft hiding information in screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/world-of-warcraft-hiding-information-in-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/world-of-warcraft-hiding-information-in-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/world-of-warcraft-hiding-information-in-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

World of Warcraft hiding information in screenshots
Like Transformers, there may be more to a World of Warcraft screenshot than meets the eye. Our sister site WoW Insider is reporting that players have discovered hidden watermarks in every in-game screenshot that contains several pieces of information.

The watermark is made up of several strips of custom bar codes, which can be decoded to reveal information from the game. While the revealed information isn't extremely personal, it does contain the server IP, player account numbers, and a time stamp. The account number is publically accessable through Blizzard's Armory site and cannot be used to hack accounts.

WoW Insider says that this information is most likely used by Blizzard to take down private servers, rogue employees, and cheaters.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft hiding information in screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-infoaccount-securityactivisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyhackhackershackinghidden-infohidden-informationscreenshotswarcraftwatermarkworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderTue, 11 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/guild-wars-2-brings-trading-post-online-handles-hacked-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/guild-wars-2-brings-trading-post-online-handles-hacked-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/guild-wars-2-brings-trading-post-online-handles-hacked-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts
It's a good day for Tyria's Wall Street and its many denizens, as ArenaNet has brought Guild Wars 2's trading post fully online. The trading post, which works as an advanced version of an auction house for the game's players, has only been sporadically available since launch.

The defense and counter-attack against the legion of GW2 hackers continues, however. The devs report that "a Guild Wars-related fan site" was recently hacked for its account information, and say that the reset password feature for the game will remain disabled for the time being as to not allow hackers another avenue of attack.

ArenaNet said that during the past 24 hours, the team has dealt with over 2,500 hacked accounts and over 2,800 login issues.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahanetarenanetauction-housebuyingdatabaseeconomyfantasyguild-wars-2gw2hackhackedhacked-accountshackersncsoftpasswordssellingtradingtrading-postTue, 04 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard denies Diablo III authenticator hacking claims]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/blizzard-denies-diablo-iii-authenticator-hacking-claims/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/blizzard-denies-diablo-iii-authenticator-hacking-claims/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/blizzard-denies-diablo-iii-authenticator-hacking-claims/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III
We've been following the mass reports of hackers bypassing passwords and authenticators to rob Diablo III accounts blind, and now we have a new twist on the story. While Blizzard confirmed "an increase in reports of individual account compromises," the studio says it has no hard evidence that hackers have found a way to skirt around the authentication system.

Community Manager Bashiok said that the company is taking the claims "extremely seriously" and is investigating the rash of account compromises. "Despite the claims and theories being made, we have yet to find any situations in which a person's account was not compromised through traditional means of someone else logging into their account through the use of their password," he said. "While the authenticator isn't a 100% guarantee of account security, we have yet to investigate a compromise report in which an authenticator was attached beforehand."

Blizzard is assisting compromised customers by restoring stolen items and rolling back their accounts. The studio has a post up on its forums to help players protect their accounts and get assistance if theft occurs.

MassivelyBlizzard denies Diablo III authenticator hacking claims originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-compromiseaccount-compromisesaccount-theftaction-rpgauthenticatorauthenticatorsBashiokbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyhackhackedhackerhackerslaunchmultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerollbackrpgtheftTue, 22 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anonymous declares war on Sony over SOPA support]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/anonymous-declares-war-on-sony-over-sopa-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/anonymous-declares-war-on-sony-over-sopa-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/anonymous-declares-war-on-sony-over-sopa-support/#comments Anonymous Sony may once again be the target of hacking attacks, but at least this time the company has a little heads-up in advance. The secretive organization of hackers known as Anonymous released a video declaring its intent to strike at Sony over Sony's support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

The video contains your usual vague proclamations of doom and ego-boosting statements, although with Anonymous' past activity, it will be hard to ignore the threat. The collective of hackers were thought to be at least partially responsible for the attack on Sony earlier this year that forced the company to take its network and games offline.

SOPA is a proposed U.S. bill that would allow law enforcement to combat pirated digital goods by shutting down websites and blocking payments to site owners. While the bill is supported by Hollywood, the music industry, and some major game companies, SOPA opposers worry that the bill will infringe on First Amendment rights and permanently harm the internet.

You can watch the Anonymous declaration after the jump.

Continue reading Anonymous declares war on Sony over SOPA support

MassivelyAnonymous declares war on Sony over SOPA support originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymousdeclarationfirst-amendmentfirst-amendment-rightshackhackerhackershackingoperation-blackoutpiracysoesonysony-online-entertainmentsopastop-online-piracy-actthreatvideowarFri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion Worlds customer database hacked, 'no evidence' credit card info stolen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/trion-worlds-customer-database-hacked-no-evidence-credit-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/trion-worlds-customer-database-hacked-no-evidence-credit-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/trion-worlds-customer-database-hacked-no-evidence-credit-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Trion Worlds
Trion Worlds has become the latest in a long string of MMO studio security breaches this year, as the company reported an intrusion into its customer database. At risk of compromise were customers' user names, passwords, birthdates, email and billing addresses, and partial credit card info. However, the company states that "there is no evidence" that full credit card numbers were stolen at this time.

In a message posted on the Trion Worlds website, the company promises that it is both researching the intrusion and taking steps to increase security. As part of this, all RIFT players will be asked to change passwords and security questions, and their mobile authenticators will need to be reconnected.

The company urges customers to watch their bank statements for questionable activity, and provides customers with resources to get a free credit report and putting a freeze on credit reports.

To compensate customers for the issue, Trion is providing all RIFT players with three extra days of gaming time and a Moneybags' Purse that increases all money looted by 10% in-game.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

MassivelyTrion Worlds customer database hacked, 'no evidence' credit card info stolen originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authenticatorbreakingcompensationcredit-card-infocredit-cardscustomer-databasedatabasehackhackedhackersintrusionmobile-authenticatormoneybags-pursepasswordsriftsecuritysecurity-breachtriontrion-worldsThu, 22 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix says no user info stolen during security breach]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/square-enix-says-no-user-info-stolen-during-security-breach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/square-enix-says-no-user-info-stolen-during-security-breach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/square-enix-says-no-user-info-stolen-during-security-breach/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Square-Enix Members
A week ago we reported that Square-Enix's Members site, a loyalty program for fans of the studio's games, suffered an unwarranted intrusion and was subsequently taken offline as the company conducted an investigation. It turns out that the best possible outcome of this investigation has occurred, as no personal information was stolen. Subsequently, the company plans to bring its Japanese and North American websites back online by the end of the month.

Square-Enix posted the following notice as an update:
As a result of our continuing investigation, we have now confirmed that the database in which we store personal information was NOT accessed during the recent server intrusion. Therefore, your personal information was NOT compromised by an unknown third party.

Square-Enix is planning to restart the Square Enix Members service by the end of December. Details of the schedule will be announced at a later date.

We deeply regret any inconvenience this may have caused our customers and fans, and appreciate your patience.

MassivelySquare-Enix says no user info stolen during security breach originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivhackhackershackinginformation-theftintrusionpersonal-infopersonal-informationsecuritysecurity-breachsecurity-intrusionsquare-enixsquare-enix-membersunauthorized-accessWed, 21 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE hands out suspensions to over 700 players as 'a first warning']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/soe-hands-out-suspensions-to-over-700-players-as-a-first-warnin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/soe-hands-out-suspensions-to-over-700-players-as-a-first-warnin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/soe-hands-out-suspensions-to-over-700-players-as-a-first-warnin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

About-face!
A couple of weeks ago, Sony Online Entertainment threw down the gauntlet to the ne'er-do-wells of EverQuest, telling them simply to "stop now." Well, as often is the case with the scum of the MMO world, many didn't listen to SOE's ominous words of warning. On Friday, December 9th, they paid the price... in blood! [Insert maniacal laughter here.]

SOE has since suspended over 700 accounts "for a number of days by way of a first warning." Community Manager Piestro closes out with another word of caution: "Remember that these suspensions are merely the first wave, and further action is on the horizon. We will not rest, but will instead continue to gather data and take action as necessary on behalf of the entire player base. Don't cheat -- it's not worth it." Also, it still makes you a jerk.

In still other EQ news, SOE has announced that it is tweaking the rate of experience gain on progression-locked servers.

MassivelySOE hands out suspensions to over 700 players as 'a first warning' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbanseqeverquestexploitersexploitingexploitshackershackingpiestrosoesony-online-entertainmentsuspendingsuspensionsuspensionsWed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/square-enix-members-server-hacked-personal-info-possibly-compro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/square-enix-members-server-hacked-personal-info-possibly-compro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/square-enix-members-server-hacked-personal-info-possibly-compro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Square Enix Members
Square-Enix has sounded the klaxons and let out the guard dogs in response to an "unauthorized access" on one of its Square Enix Members servers. The web service was taken offline in North America and Japan while the company investigates the situation and determines how serious the problem is.

Fortunately, it doesn't appear as if credit card information is at stake, although some users' personal information may be:
We are assessing the full extent of this potential breach to determine what data, if any, was compromised and will provide more details as soon as possible. While some personal information may have been accessed, we can confirm that there is no possibility of any credit card information leak from this incident, since the server in question stores no credit card information. We estimate that the suspension will continue for a few days until we complete our investigation and counter-measures. We will update you as we learn more.
Square Enix Members is a loyalty program that dishes out rewards in exchange for players who register Square-Enix games with the service. The website does store users' names, addresses, usernames, and passwords.

MassivelySquare Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivhackhackedhackershackingidentity-theftinformation-theftloyalty-programsquareSquare-Enixsquare-enix-membersunauthorized-accessWed, 14 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest to hackers: You've been served]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/everquest-to-hackers-youve-been-served/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/everquest-to-hackers-youve-been-served/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/everquest-to-hackers-youve-been-served/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Stand and deliver!
In a suitably ominous speech on the EverQuest forums, Sony Online Entertainment's Piestro delivered a word of warning to the cheaters, hackers, and exploiters of Norrath: "Stop now." Piestro goes on to reveal that the team has been quietly performing some clandestine work that helps "[detect] cheaters quickly and accurately."

This should be good news for fans of the old-school title who enjoy playing the game on a level field. Hackers, however, should back down at once, because -- as Piestro warns -- "there will be no second chances." Also, because cheating makes you a jerk.

MassivelyEverQuest to hackers: You've been served originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheaterscheatingeqeverquestexploitersexploitshackershackers-stop-nowhackspiestrosoesony-online-entertainmentsrsly-guys-dont-hackwarningFri, 02 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MapleStory breached, 13 million accounts exposed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/maplestory-breached-13-million-accounts-exposed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/maplestory-breached-13-million-accounts-exposed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/maplestory-breached-13-million-accounts-exposed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MapleStory
The famously hacked Sony has a sympathetic shoulder this week, as Nexon recently discovered a massive breach that's exposed over 13 million MapleStory player accounts to cyber ne'er-do-wells. Discovered this past Thursday, the breach was solely limited to South Korea, as Nexon hosts separate countries on their own servers.

This means that any South Korean MapleStory player's information is at risk, including user IDs, names, passwords, and residential registration numbers. This information could potentially be stolen and used for a variety of crimes.

While there's been no word whether actual personal information has been stolen, Nexon nevertheless urged these 13+ million subscribers to change their passwords. The company has contacted the police to ask for a formal investigation.

This comes at an unfortunate time for the company, as Nexon is poised to present its IPO on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December.

MassivelyMapleStory breached, 13 million accounts exposed originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securitybreachhackhackedhackersipokoreanmaplestorymaplestory-breachnexonsecurity-breachsoesonysouth-koreatokyo-stock-exchangeSat, 26 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The real damage of botting, in the words of a botter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/free-for-all-the-real-damage-of-botting-in-the-words-of-a-botter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/free-for-all-the-real-damage-of-botting-in-the-words-of-a-botter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/free-for-all-the-real-damage-of-botting-in-the-words-of-a-botter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

RuneScape screenshot
I received an interesting email from someone the other day, someone who wanted to let me in on the lifestyle of a botter. Frankly I was a little embarrassed for the guy since he seemed to believe me to be naive about the entire process. The truth is that I have met plenty of shady characters and heard stories that would make your eyes bug out of your head. I've heard these stories from the developers and players themselves. There truly is some nasty stuff going on in MMO gaming.

The saddest thing is that cheaters honestly think that what they do cannot possibly result in much harm for the game they are botting in, cheating at, or hacking up. It's sad because the truth is that a cheater, as one person, might not have much of an impact on the game. Add up several thousands of these scam artists and the results are mindboggling. Drive by your local dump to see just how much trash can pile up, one person at a time.

I want to shine some light on just how damaging botting can be. Click past the cut.

Continue reading Free for All: The real damage of botting, in the words of a botter

MassivelyFree for All: The real damage of botting, in the words of a botter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbotbotsbottersbottingf2pfeaturedffa-pvpfree-for-allfree-to-playftpgold-farminggreedhackershackingjagexmark-gerhardrunescapeWed, 02 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Introducing Shadowrun Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/introducing-shadowrun-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/introducing-shadowrun-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/introducing-shadowrun-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shadowrun Online
Cliffhanger Productions, the makers of the upcoming Jagged Alliance Online, has announced another title in progress: Shadowrun Online. Based on the popular pen-and-paper game, Shadowrun will share a similar top-down strategy format with Jagged Alliance. Shadowrun takes place in a dystopian 2070 where magic and technology clash, and where hackers and street samurai are commonplace.

Shadowrun Online players will split their game time between prepping missions and carrying them out. While some of the maps will require all-out action efforts, others will require stealth, hacking, and even magic. Between fights, players will seek out contacts, prepare spells, and purchase gear to improve their odds when the time comes.

Shadowrun Online is in pre-production and the team hopes to get it into full development by November. It is planned to be a browser-based title, and Cliffhanger is drawing from Shadowrun alumni efforts to keep the game in line with the franchise. The company is still looking for partners to help with publishing and distributing.

MassivelyIntroducing Shadowrun Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcliffhangercliffhanger-productionsdystopiahackersjagged-alliance-onlinenew-titlenew-titlespen-and-papershadowrunshadowrun-onlinestrategystreet-samuraitop-down-strategyThu, 13 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hackers compromise 33,000 SOE accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/hackers-compromise-33-000-soe-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/hackers-compromise-33-000-soe-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/hackers-compromise-33-000-soe-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sony HQ
Sony's hacking woes continue today, as intruders today have attempted -- and, in some cases, succeeded -- to access the giant corporation's accounts. Chief Information Security Officer Philip Reitinger posted a letter on several SOE forums informing players that their accounts may have been compromised.

The good news is that less than 0.1% of Sony's entire playerbase has been affected. The bad news is that that leaves around 33,000 SOE players -- in addition to Sony Entertainment Network and PlayStation Network customers -- whose accounts were hacked. Following the intrusion, Sony temporarily locked the accounts and is investigating the situation.

"Only a small fraction of these 93,000 accounts showed additional activity prior to being locked," Reitinger said. He assured customers that credit card numbers were not leaked and that any purchases made during this intrusion will be restored. SOE customers with locked accounts will receive an email with instructions on how to validate their credentials and restore their service.

MassivelyHackers compromise 33,000 SOE accounts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compromised-accountshackhackedhacked-accountshackershackingPhilip-Reitingersoesonysony-online-entertainmentWed, 12 Oct 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fighting the EverQuest hacking wildfire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/fighting-the-everquest-hacking-wildfire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/fighting-the-everquest-hacking-wildfire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/fighting-the-everquest-hacking-wildfire/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EQ
While hacking and botting may not be a source of frustration to you in your daily MMO, to the denizens of EverQuest, it is a real and ever-present headache. In what is already not the easiest MMO on the planet, players are experiencing an onslaught of hackers who go out of their way to ruin the fun for everyone.

In a three-part series, Ten Ton Hammer exposes the systematic problem of rampant hacking in the game, especially on the new progression servers. While guilds are doing their part to crack down on hackers in their midst, it doesn't seem to be enough to stem the flow, especially as with a much smaller team in place these days.

Ultimately, fighting this problem does not seem to be SOE's current priority. EQ Producer Thom Terazzas addressed the issue of hacking by saying, "The expansion is something that we're really focused on right now. That has gotten, I would say, 80 percent of the focus here. So doing anything that dramatically combats the hacking is something that we would really like to do, but it is not something we've been able to do."

Terazzas followed that up by talking with the Customer Service team and promised that the hackings will receive higher priority once the expansion crunch is over. In the meantime, he urged players to file reports with CS if hacking was observed.

MassivelyFighting the EverQuest hacking wildfire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botbotsbottersbottingcscustomer-serviceeqeverquestexposehackhackedhackershackinghackingsinterviewsoesony-online-entertainmentten-ton-hammerThom-TerazzastthThu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies fan site hacked, 23K passwords stolen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/star-wars-galaxies-fan-site-hacked-23k-passwords-stolen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/star-wars-galaxies-fan-site-hacked-23k-passwords-stolen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/star-wars-galaxies-fan-site-hacked-23k-passwords-stolen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWG.net
Talk about kicking a game's community when it's down.

VentureBeat reports that Star Wars Galaxies.net, a major SWG fan site, was hacked yesterday. Star Wars Galaxies.net is part of a LucasArts fan site network, and apparently was not being actively maintained, as the last update was in June of 2009. Still, over 21,000 email addresses and 23,000 passwords were stolen -- some of which could lead to identity theft, according to authorities.

The hack was perpetrated by ObSec, a small group in the vein of LulzSec. The hackers posted the email addresses and passwords online for all to see. Analysis of the passwords found that 71% were relatively weak and easy to crack anyway.

Some Star Wars Galaxies players may see this as an unfortunate echo of the much larger Sony hack that happened earlier this year. We at Massively urge any players who have used this fan site to make sure that they change their passwords elsewhere as well.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies fan site hacked, 23K passwords stolen originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emailsfan-sitefansitefansiteshackhackedhackersidentity-theftlucasartslulzsecobsecpasswordsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies.netstolenswgWed, 31 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[North Korea employing MMO hackers to fund government]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/north-korea-employing-mmo-hackers-to-fund-government/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/north-korea-employing-mmo-hackers-to-fund-government/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/north-korea-employing-mmo-hackers-to-fund-government/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What's a dictator to do when his third-world economy is wheezing along on its last legs? Hack some video games, of course! According to a report in the New York Times, North Korea's Kim Jong-il unleashed an army of young computer crackers on popular South Korean online gaming portals to find ways to make quick cash.

South Korean authorities claim that a squad of approximately 30 hackers operated from a base in China and were given the mission of breaching online gaming servers (including those of the immensely popular Lineage) to set up bot factories and automated farming collectives. The digital booty was then sold to gamers for a reported $6 million over two years.

Chung Kil-hwan, a senior officer at South Korea's International Crime Investigation Unit, says that the hacker group "reports to a shadowy Communist Party agency called Office 39, which gathers foreign hard currency for Mr. Kim through drug trafficking, counterfeiting, arms sales, and other illicit activities."

MassivelyNorth Korea employing MMO hackers to fund government originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bot-farmsbotscrackersculturedictatorshipfarmersgold-farmershackerslineagemmo-industrynorth-koreaoffice-39real-money-tradingrmtsouth-koreaSat, 06 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gold buying is one of those aspects of MMO culture that is seemingly universally denounced, yet enough people partake in the practice to keep the wheels of this grey market activity going. Scott Hartsman may be saying the obvious when he denounced gold farming and selling to Gamasutra, but apparently it is still something we need to hear.

The Trion Worlds general manager shared a glimpse of just how hard these activities hit games, and how concerned he and other studio execs are about the proliferation of credit card fraud that results: "It's those kinds of things where people laugh and go, 'Oh, that never happens.' No. It happens. It happens a s**tload. To the point where, over the last three or four years, I would dare anybody to ask an exec at a gaming company how much they've had to pay in MasterCard and Visa fines, because of fraud. It happens a lot."

According to Hartsman, the more these events take place, the more money studios spend on paying fines and dealing with them instead of reinvesting funds into the games themselves -- all because of the "jerks" perpetuating the crimes.

MassivelyScott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-card-fraudgamasutragold-buyinggold-farmergold-farminggold-sellinggrey-markethackhackedhackersjerksmastercardrmtscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsvisaThu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fifty days of 'lulz' over: LulzSec disbands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/50-days-of-lulz-over-lulzsec-disbands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/50-days-of-lulz-over-lulzsec-disbands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/50-days-of-lulz-over-lulzsec-disbands/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The secretive hacking group known as LulzSec has announced that it is formally disbanding with the completion of its planned 50 days of mayhem. Among its many targets that it has hacked, including government sites, LulzSec struck at The Escapist, Bethesda Game Studios, League of Legends, and EVE Online.

LulzSec sent out a final statement, which said the group was a band of six hackers who had planned 50 days of attacks from the beginning. Now that the time is up, the group plans to fade into the shadows.

The group hopes that others will continue with these illegal activities: "Behind the mask, behind the insanity and mayhem, we truly believe in the AntiSec movement. We hope, wish, even beg, that the movement manifests itself into a revolution that can continue on without us."

While a suspected member of LulzSec was arrested a few days ago, the organization denied that he was part of the collective.

MassivelyFifty days of 'lulz' over: LulzSec disbands originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-securityantisecattacksccpciaddoseveeve-onlinefbigovernmenthackershackingleague-of-legendslollulzlulzsecryan-clearythe-escapistMon, 27 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Codemasters website, store, and database hacked]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/codemasters-website-store-and-database-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/codemasters-website-store-and-database-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/codemasters-website-store-and-database-hacked/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Another day, another game publisher in a hacker's crosshairs. This time around it's Codemasters, and Eurogamer has the details on a security violation that compromised the company's website, EStore, CodeM database, and Dirt3 VIP code redemption webpage. The intrusion occurred on June 3rd, and Codemasters has sent out a letter to affected customers advising of the potential threat to their identity-related information.

The article reports that no payment details or credit card info was pilfered, but encrypted passwords as well as Xbox Live gamer tags and personal data (including addresses and user names) were taken. Thus far no groups or individuals have claimed responsibility for the attack. You can read the full Codemasters letter at Eurogamer.

MassivelyCodemasters website, store, and database hacked originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasterscodemasters-hackdirt3hackhackershackingidentity-theftmmo-industrypersonal-informationpublisherssecuritysecurity-breachFri, 10 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Suspected Sony hackers arrested in Spain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/suspected-sony-hackers-arrested-in-spain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/suspected-sony-hackers-arrested-in-spain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/suspected-sony-hackers-arrested-in-spain/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you've been wondering when (or whether) authorities would be bringing some of the Sony PlayStation hackers to justice, the New York Times has a brief report that you'll want to check out. Three hackers were recently arrested by Spanish police in the cities of Almeria, Barcelona, and Valencia, all of them with suspected connections to the attacks that took the PlayStation Network offline last April as well as cyber assaults on Spanish banks and government websites.

The Spanish National Police claim to have "dismantled the local leadership of the shadowy international network of computer hackers known as Anonymous," though the Times article casts doubt on whether or not the three individuals arrested were solely responsible for the Sony brouhaha.

The cyber shenanigans will end up costing Sony somewhere in the neighborhood of $173 million due to damages, IT spending, legal fees, lost sales, and expenses related to customer win-back programs.

MassivelySuspected Sony hackers arrested in Spain originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymousculturehacker-arrestshackershackingMiscellaneousmmo-industryny-timesPlayStationPlaystation3ps3securitysoesonySony-Computer-Entertainmentsony-hackSony-Online-EntertainmentFri, 10 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony loses $3.2B, spends $170M in response to hacker attacks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/sony-loses-3-2b-spends-170m-in-response-to-hacker-attacks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/sony-loses-3-2b-spends-170m-in-response-to-hacker-attacks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/sony-loses-3-2b-spends-170m-in-response-to-hacker-attacks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sony's bad year is getting a smidge worse. The company, which had previously predicted a healthy profit for the past fiscal year, is now expecting a loss of $3.2 billion for the period of April 2010 through March 2011.

The reverse in fortunes is mostly due to writing off a $4.4 billion tax credit, although the company has been struggling with both the recent earthquake and hacker attack that disrupted operations of both its physical operations and online services. Sony CFO Masaru Kato doesn't beat around the bush: "In the first quarter, we saw quite a major impact on our manufacturing activities."

Sony also has spent over $170 million in response to the hacking intrusion last month. These funds went to rebuilding the network, providing identity protection coverage, investigating the attacks, free game time, and customer support.

This is the second straight year that Sony has operated at a loss, although last year's $439 million wasn't nearly as severe as this promises to be.

MassivelySony loses $3.2B, spends $170M in response to hacker attacks originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthquakefiscal-yearhackershackinghacking-attackshacking-intrusionidentity-protectionlossMasaru-Katonet-lossnet-profitPlayStation-Networkprofitsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttax-credittsunamiMon, 23 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Talking Sony and identity protection with LifeLock]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/talking-sony-and-identity-protection-with-lifelock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/talking-sony-and-identity-protection-with-lifelock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/talking-sony-and-identity-protection-with-lifelock/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Sony continues to struggle to restore service to both the PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment's MMOs following a hacking intrusion that resulted in millions of customer identities being compromised, players are understandably concerned about how secure their information is with similar companies.

Even though Sony promised to provide a year's worth of identity theft protection for affected customers, part of the responsibility for safeguarding against such theft lies with us. As such, we spoke with Mike Prusinski, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for LifeLock, an identity theft protection service. We asked him about what we should be doing to protect our identities online -- and what Sony could have done better in the first place.

Massively: What are the most common ways that people have their identities stolen?

Mike Prusinski: Though there are no statistics that point to one way over another, consumers get their personal information lost through stolen laptops, hackers, stolen mail, trash, skimming devices, scams (email, phone calls and personal visits), peer-to-peer networks and public websites.

Continue reading Talking Sony and identity protection with LifeLock

MassivelyTalking Sony and identity protection with LifeLock originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-card-frauddata-breachEpilisonfacebookfeaturedhackhackedhackershackingidentity-theftinterviewlifelockMike-Prusinskimyspacepasswordpasswordsplaystation-networksoesonysony-online-entertainmentState-of-Texas-Comptroller-Officestolen-accountsTue, 10 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE releases further breach details, 24.6 million accounts compromised]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/soe-releases-further-breach-details-24-6-million-accounts-compr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/soe-releases-further-breach-details-24-6-million-accounts-compr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/soe-releases-further-breach-details-24-6-million-accounts-compr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's an old adage that things are always darkest just before the dawn, and right now the folks at Sony Online Entertainment -- as well as millions of customers -- are enduring another round of grim news. The San Diego-based MMORPG publisher has just announced that approximately 24.6 million accounts may have been stolen, in addition to the 12,700 credit or debit card thefts reported yesterday.

A new SOE press release reports that personal information including names, addresses, email addresses, login names, and hashed passwords has been illegally obtained by hackers. Another 10,700 direct debit records were pilfered from accounts in Austria, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, including bank account numbers and the information mentioned above.

SOE plans to compensate consumers with 30 days of free subscription time as well as an additional day for each day its systems are down. The company will also provide "a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs."

MassivelySOE releases further breach details, 24.6 million accounts compromised originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24.6million-accountsaccounts-compromisedbreakingcompensationhackersidentity-theftmmo-industrynetwork-intrusionnetwork-securitynewspress-releasesecuritysoesoe-hackedSony-Online-EntertainmentTue, 03 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A second breach of Sony's internet security? [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/a-second-breach-of-sonys-internet-security/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/a-second-breach-of-sonys-internet-security/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/a-second-breach-of-sonys-internet-security/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We have all heard that Sony's PlayStation Network was compromised nearly two weeks ago. The online services for the PlayStation 3 have yet to recover or come back online since the incident. This morning, Sony's PR director Patrick Seybold claimed that there was no truth to the rumor that credit card information was stolen by hackers. However, SOE cautioned gamers to be vigilant nonetheless.

It has now come to light via Nikkei.com that there was a reported second security infraction in Sony's gaming network. Nikkei claims that nearly 12,700 credit card numbers were stolen from Sony Online Entertainment this past Sunday in a second attack. As we reported this morning, all SOE sites have been brought offline because of "an issue that warrants enough concern for [SOE] to take the service down effective immediately," according the the site.

Michele Sturdivant, a spokeswoman for Sony, countered this allegation in The Wall Street Journal. "We temporarily took down SOE's services as part of our continued investigation into the external intrusion that occurred in April," Sturdivant affirmed. "This is not a second attack."

[Update: SOE has posted a security update to The Station.com. "We are today advising you that the personal information you provided us in connection with your SOE account may have been stolen in a cyber-attack. Stolen information includes, to the extent you provided it to us, the following: name, address (city, state, zip, country), email address, gender, birthdate, phone number, login name and hashed password." The notice further suggests that "information from an outdated database from 2007 containing approximately 12,700 non-US customer credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates (but not credit card security codes) and about 10,700 direct debit records listing bank account numbers of certain customers in Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Spain may have also been obtained" but that the "main credit card database" was not compromised in the attack. It appears this is part of the larger PSN attacks and not a separate security breach.]

MassivelyA second breach of Sony's internet security? [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-cardhackersMichele-Sturdivantpatrick-seyboldPlayStation-NetworksecuritySOESonySony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 02 May 2011 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE takes services offline due to serious issue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/soe-takes-services-offline-due-to-serious-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/soe-takes-services-offline-due-to-serious-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/soe-takes-services-offline-due-to-serious-issue/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This Monday morning, Sony Online Entertainment customers are waking up to discover that all of their games' services are down. Apparently, the company has discovered a serious issue while following up with the previous weeks' hacker intrusion and is taking steps to rectify it.

The Station.com posted the following notice:
Dear valued SOE Customers,

We have had to take the SOE service down temporarily. In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately. We will provide an update later today (Monday).
We'll update this story as it develops.

MassivelySOE takes services offline due to serious issue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackedhackerhackershackingservers-downservicessoesonysony-online-entertainmentstationstation.comMon, 02 May 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Network credit card info appears to be safe: 'No unauthorized activity relating to Sony']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/playstation-network-credit-card-info-appears-to-be-safe-no-una/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/playstation-network-credit-card-info-appears-to-be-safe-no-una/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/playstation-network-credit-card-info-appears-to-be-safe-no-una/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like the beleaguered Sony finally caught a break. The company, which has struggled for over a week following a hacker attack that stole massive amounts of player information, says that it looks as though user credit card information remains secure and encrypted. It turns out that Sony had encrypted some personal info but not all of it.

Gamespot also reports that several financial companies, including MasterCard, WellsFargo and American Express, have witnessed "no unauthorized activity relating to Sony."

Sony's Patrick Seybold passed along the positive news: "The entire credit card table was encrypted and we have no evidence that credit card data was taken. The personal data table, which is a separate data set, was not encrypted, but was, of course, behind a very sophisticated security system that was breached in a malicious attack."

Sony's PlayStation Network is still offline while it's rebuilt with a higher level of security. The company saw its shares drop 4.5% today on the Tokyo exchange to $27.71.

MassivelyPlayStation Network credit card info appears to be safe: 'No unauthorized activity relating to Sony' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american-expressars-technicacredit-cardcredit-card-infogamespothackhackedhackerhacker-attackhackersidentity-theftmastercardPatrick-Seyboldplaystation-networksoesonysony-online-entertainmentwellsfargoThu, 28 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you trust MMO companies after the Sony debacle?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-trust-mmo-companies-after-the-sony-debac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-trust-mmo-companies-after-the-sony-debac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-trust-mmo-companies-after-the-sony-debac/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's hard to believe that it's been over a week after a major intrusion into the PlayStation network, and Sony is still trying to put the pieces back together. Many customers were dismayed to hear that their private information was compromised by the attack.

Free Realms and DC Universe Online players are among those who have to feel shaken up at the revelation that Sony wasn't the impregnable fortress they perhaps hoped. It's unsettling to realize just how much personal info you hand over to these companies -- your name, address, birthday, credit card information, passwords -- when that info could be grabbed by hackers.

In light of the Sony debacle, do you still trust MMO companies with this information, or has it made you think twice about the corporations to which you're handing the keys to your life?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you trust MMO companies after the Sony debacle? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dc-universe-onlinedcuofree-realmshackhackedhackersidentity-theftplaystationplaystation-networksoesonySony-Online-Entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 28 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player identifies "huge security hole" in RIFT's authentication system, Trion seals it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/player-identifies-huge-security-hole-in-rifts-authentication/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/player-identifies-huge-security-hole-in-rifts-authentication/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/player-identifies-huge-security-hole-in-rifts-authentication/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hacking and account hijacking have been severe issues for RIFT ever since launch, even though Trion Worlds anticipated the onslaught from the beginning. Yesterday we saw Trion implement the so-called Coin Lock patch to prevent hackers from selling other players' items in-game, which some see as a novel (partial) solution to the problem.

However, this may not be enough to stop the truly malicious invaders from getting into RIFT accounts. One player, identified as "ManWitDaPlan" on the forums, claims to have circumvented the account login completely, leaving a "huge security hole" for hackers to exploit:

"I have verified the authentication system can be bypassed by successfully logging into another account without needing its credentials. Worse, all it took was about thirty seconds of time once I got all of the details locked down. I did trigger Coin Lock, but I was fully able to access that handy delete-character button, so this exploit is a griefer's dream. I will not post details on how to do this (so don't ask), but I'm positive that I can reproduce this at will and likely on any account on the system."

Later in the thread, a Trion representative added: "We have some things in the works right now and have been passing on your feedback, concerns, and thoughts throughout the day (no matter how radical or unlikely). Sharing sensitive information about our actions (no matter how broad) naturally also informs those carrying out these attacks. This puts us in a tight spot with how much information we can provide, and the questions we can answer."

And it looks as though the problem may be fixed, as ManWitDaPlan posted late last night: "Got word back from Steve Chamberlin, the development lead for Rift. This hole is sealed."

MassivelyPlayer identifies "huge security hole" in RIFT's authentication system, Trion seals it originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-exploitsaccount-securityauthenticationauthentication-systemcoin-lockcoin-lock-systemgriefershackhackedhackersmanwitdaplanriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsSat, 19 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine upgrades LotRO's compromised account reimbursement policy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/26/turbine-upgrades-lotros-compromised-account-reiumbursement-poli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/26/turbine-upgrades-lotros-compromised-account-reiumbursement-poli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/26/turbine-upgrades-lotros-compromised-account-reiumbursement-poli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Account security is a worrysome topic in Lord of the Rings Online these days, especially following a reported rise in hacks and thefts among the playerbase. A couple months ago Codemasters implemented a stronger policy to help players recover lost property, a direction that Turbine followed yesterday when it revised its compromised account reimbursement policy.

Sapience announced on the LotRO forums that this policy is significantly updated and expanded from the old one. Now when a player's account is hacked, Turbine gives a seven-day window to report the issue, during which the company can restore "most" of the lost items and compensate players for items that cannot be replaced. This, however, is not a true rollback and does not cover accounts compromised before February 24th.

Turbine also reassured players that the studio is making it much tougher for unauthorized intruders to delete or sell rare items like raid gear, which should add another layer of protection from losing one's goods.

MassivelyTurbine upgrades LotRO's compromised account reimbursement policy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasterscompromised-account-reimbursementcompromised-account-reimbursement-policycompromised-accountshackhackedhackerslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroreimbursementrollbacksapiencetheftturbineunauthorized-third-partySat, 26 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Hacked!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"My kinship had just finished an instance run about a week-and-a-half ago and was in the process of reloading back into the world when I got the message that I was being disconnected because I had just logged into the Brandywine server. Huh? Suspecting the worst, I immediately hit up the Turbine Account page and changed my password then re-logged back into the game, which would boot the hacker offline just like I had been booted minutes earlier.

"I was lucky and did that before the hacker had time to switch servers to where my active characters are. Other kinmates have not been so lucky."

So goes the frightening tale of Pumping Irony's Scott, who shares this in the hopes that others may avoid a similar scare. Unfortunately, it seems as though stories such as these are becoming more and more common in Lord of the Rings Online, where the worst threat to your quest may not be the eye of Sauron but the malicious intent of hackers gutting your account while you're offline.

Today we're going to step off the path for a temporary side trail into the gloomy undergrowth of account security and an MMO under siege.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Hacked!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Hacked! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoraccountaccount-securityauthenticatorblizzardblizzard-authenticatorCodemastersCompromised-Accountcracked.comffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfirewallhackedhackersiphonelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromalwaremiddle-earthparanoiapasswordpasswordspumping-ironysapiencesauronsecurityspywarethe-road-to-mordortokensturbineturbine-accountTurbine-Entertainmentvirus-scannerworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[APB Reloaded blog talks hackers and cheaters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/apb-reloaded-blog-talks-hackers-and-cheaters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/apb-reloaded-blog-talks-hackers-and-cheaters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/apb-reloaded-blog-talks-hackers-and-cheaters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bjorn Book-Larsson has a lot to say about APB Reloaded, the forthcoming reanimation of APB's corpse, courtesy of free-to-play publisher GamersFirst. Book-Larsson, the company's COO/CTO, has been blogging about the resurgent title for a few weeks now, and veteran players and prospective newbs alike will want to take a gander at his latest entry.

The blog focuses on APB's anti-cheat protections and, while it doesn't go into great detail for obvious reasons, Book-Larsson does make a decent case for APB Reloaded's level playing field. First off, he points out that the server-driven game is "more resilient to cheaters than most other F2P MMOs" due to the fact that F2P titles generally don't spend the same kind of money on infrastructure in comparison to your average P2P title. "In APB we are going to run a giant experiment to basically determine if hardware costs/specs have progressed far enough to make F2P server-driven games financially viable," he says.

Book-Larsson goes on to discuss the aim-bot problem, as well as various denial-of-service attacks that GamersFirst has dealt with over the past few years. It's an interesting read for anyone curious about APB Reloaded or MMO security, and also offers a humorous bit of insight relating to the over-reporting of cheaters.

MassivelyAPB Reloaded blog talks hackers and cheaters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aim-botaim-botsall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameanti-cheatapbBjorn-Book-Larssoncheatersf2pfree-to-playgamersfirsthackersp2pserverserver-hardwareTue, 14 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mortal Online busting out tremendous banhammer on hackers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/mortal-online-busting-out-tremendous-banhammer-on-hackers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/mortal-online-busting-out-tremendous-banhammer-on-hackers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/mortal-online-busting-out-tremendous-banhammer-on-hackers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hackers beware. The team at Star Vault have their eyes on you, and it's time to stop any and all shenanigans you've got going on in Mortal Online. Or else, you say? Or else the banhammer awaits you -- and according to their most recent update, it means an instant, permanent ban that could leave you staring at the login screen in frustration.

According to a post by Maerlyn on the Mortal Online forums, there is currently no set date on when software monitoring will come into play, or even what method they'll use to monitor for third-party applications or changes in the game files that are being reported. A follow-up posting by Tazaterra in the same thread indicates that anyone who has modified game files needs to stop at this time.

With the game still being tweaked pending release, we're glad to see the team at Star Vault is taking a proactive stance on this before the floodgates officially open. In a game where PvP is everything, players need to know that anyone using exploits, hacks, bots or the like to tip the game balance will be dealt with swiftly and before it causes game imbalances.

[via TTH]

MassivelyMortal Online busting out tremendous banhammer on hackers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbanhammerforum-postgame-fileshackerhackersmomortal-onlinepvpstar-vaultTue, 27 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST